Water for Life
Page
Water security is a right ................................................................................... 4
Water security improves community health ................................................. 5
Story: Industries and communities compete for water ................................ 7
Health problems from lack of water ............................................................... 8
Water and HIV/AIDS .......................................................................................... 9
Health problems from unsafe water ............................................................... 10
Community Education Activity: How do you know if water is safe? ..... 10
Diarrhea diseases ......................................................................................... 11
Worm infections ........................................................................................... 13
Toxic chemicals in water .................................................................................. 15
Story: Arsenic in Bangladesh ........................................................................... 15
Developing a plan for community water security ......................................... 16
Community Education Activity: Two Circles ............................................ 16
Community Education Activity: Water Watch .......................................... 17
Plan improvements to your water supply ...................................................... 20
Story: Villagers teach development workers.................................................. 21
How to protect groundwater sources ............................................................. 22
Steps to safer wells and water holes ......................................................... 23
The protected family well ........................................................................... 24
How to protect a spring .............................................................................. 28
How to collect rainwater .................................................................................. 30
Story: Community rainwater harvesting in Rajasthan ................................. 31
Safe water transport ......................................................................................... 32
Story: Women and men work together ........................................................... 33
The Nicaraguan rope pump ............................................................................. 34
Safe water storage ............................................................................................. 35
Community Education Activity: Safe water collection and storage ...... 35
How to make water safe for drinking and cooking ........................................ 37
Settling water ................................................................................................ 38
Filtering water .............................................................................................. 39
Disinfecting water ........................................................................................ 40
Filters for household and community use ................................................ 42
Who is responsible for water security? .......................................................... 44
Story: Partnerships improve water access .................................................... 44
International law and the right to water ........................................................ 45
List of difficult words ........................................................................................ 46
Where to get more information ....................................................................... 47