“Water promises to be to the 21st century what oil was to the 20th century: the precious commodity that determines the wealth of nations.” (Fortune Magazine, May 15, 2000)
For most people in the world, turning on a faucet in the kitchen to obtain unlimited clean drinking water is an unavailable luxury. As noted by FreeDrinkingWater.com, the World Health Organization states an alarming fact that 3.4 million people die each year from waterborne diseases. With oil-tainted bays and rivers and ever depleting fresh water supplies, the world is starting to truly appreciate that water is, indeed, a precious commodity. The demand for water continues to grow because of population growth and industrial expansion. Meanwhile, the world’s fresh water supply is shrinking due to pollution, draining of underground aquifers, and climate change. With increasing demand and decreasing supply, water is quickly becoming one of the largest economic growth sectors in the world.