It is commonly known that waterborne diseases (WBD) cause well over
50% of the deaths and directly or indirectly cause 88% of the illnesses
in developing countries. Each year, approximately four to five million
children under the age of five years die from WBD (about 300 per hour).
It is estimated that 50% of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by
those suffering from WBD. The amount of WBD related deaths far
exceeds the number of deaths caused by all other communicable
diseases (AIDS, etc.) combined.
Contaminants in surface water (like pathogens) and excessive minerals
in ground water are significant issues in developing and developed
countries. The world’s supply of safe drinking water keeps decreasing
while related issues (such as climate change) increase exponentially.
Currently, available drinking water comprises approximately 0.007%
of all of our planet’s water supply and is decreasing each day.
Arsenic, for example, has recently been linked as a primary cause
of cancer and Type II Diabetes. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element
which exists in almost every country.