If you live in America, you probably spend very little time thinking about water. We take this natural resource for granted because we have instant access and an abundant supply. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average U.S. household uses more than 300 gallons of water per day. All we have to do is turn on the tap, and clean H2O is right at our fingertips.
Think about the role water plays in your morning routine: You flush the toilet, take a shower, brush your teeth, make a cup of coffee, and all this happens within the first couple hours of the day! Later on, you might start a load of laundry, wash your car or take a dip in the community pool. Water is an essential part of our daily lives, yet we rarely give it a second thought.
Here are a few interesting stats on water usage in America:
- A high-efficiency washing machine uses 14 gallons per load.
- A 10-minute shower uses about 25 gallons.
- Washing a car can use up to 100 gallons.
- The average residential swimming pool holds roughly 20,000 gallons.
- In 2020, 15 billion gallons of bottled water were sold in the United States.
In stark contrast, many Cambodians don’t even have access to treated water. This is particularly true for those who live in rural areas, which accounts for about 75% of the population. Imagine collecting your water from a local river or relying on rainfall for all your drinking, washing, and bathing needs. This is the reality for many families in Cambodia.
A lack of sanitation facilities means that human waste often contaminates waterways and spreads disease. The rural population tends to have a limited understanding of the importance of hygiene, and without access to clean water, toilets and hand-washing facilities, serious illness can result.
At Rock Foundation Cambodia, we are responding to the water crisis by drilling wells in some of the poorest communities across the country. To date, we have built more than 500 clean water wells, and that number continues to grow. With your help, we are providing sustainable resources and bringing the hope of Jesus to those who desperately need it.
Become a monthly partner and provide clean, running water and proper sanitation to even more impoverished communities in Cambodia.
