Lesson 1: Clean Water

Learn

Lake Itasca – Where it all begins

There are many sources of fresh water around the world. Your journey begins today at Lake Itasca, the primary source of the Mississippi River. Lake Itasca is located in north central Minnesota and is approximately 1.8 square miles in area.

Clean Water Access

Lesson 1 Vocabulary

Sanitation

Conditions that affect public health, especially providing clean water and ways to dispose of sewage or waste

Hygiene

Practices used to stay clean, maintain health and prevent disease

Urbanization

The process of making an area become more like a city

Ecosystem

A community of living things (organisms) interacting with their physical environment

Water is considered an essential human need. The United Nations (UN) estimates that each person on Earth requires at least five to thirteen gallons of clean, safe water every day for drinking, cooking, disposing of waste (sanitation) and keeping themselves clean (hygiene). Stop to think for a minute about all the ways you use water in your everyday life.

As you read in the introduction, polluted water isn’t just dirty—it can be deadly. Millions of people die or get sick from water-related illnesses every year. But all this can be changed if we provide access to clean water for everyone around the world.

The issue is more than just having clean water—there is enough clean water to meet the needs of every person. Often the issue is access to that water. In many communities, people have to walk several miles each and every day to retrieve water from a well, lake or other source of water. The time spent collecting this water can affect human health, productivity and even educational opportunities. In other communities, access to water is available if you are able to pay for it. Many families cannot afford the cost and they go without the water they so desperately need.

While fresh water sources are important for providing clean water and sanitation around the world, there are many other factors involved. Things like financing, urbanization and the quality of ecosystems can also play a role in access to clean water. In this lesson, you will collect information about the many issues affecting the global water crisis.

Inquire

UN Water Dimensions

As you learned in the introduction, the United Nations (UN) is working to improve access to water and sanitation worldwide.

Reflect

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