Around the world, families that lack access to clean water face extreme challenges. In Malawi, for instance, these water challenges impact about 4 million people (according to USAID). They regularly contend with hardships such as:

• Lost health. Drinking from open, untreated bodies of water is many families’ only option — and it is a terrible risk to their health. These sources are often riddled with parasites, bacteria, chemical runoff and human and animal waste — contaminants that can cause fatal illnesses. In Nicaragua, for instance, diarrhea is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 — often caused by waterborne illnesses.
• Lost time. Women and girls often wake in the dark hours of the early morning to start seeking water for the day. They might walk miles and for hours before reaching the nearest river, pond or hand-dug well. Depending on their families’ needs, they might also have to make multiple trips throughout the day, leaving little time for church, school, work and other important activities.
• Lost finances. In nations like Malawi, where more than half the population lives below the poverty line, many families live on extremely tight resources. Still, the search for water eats into time that could be used for working and earning income. Some also spend their limited funds to purchase water from trucks or buy medicines to treat waterborne diseases, sinking them deeper into poverty.

These are just some of the ways water scarcity contributes to poverty, keeping families trapped in a cycle of sickness and despair. By meeting the need for clean water, we can interrupt that tragic cycle, ushering families into a new era of health and empowerment.