Water makes up more than half of the human body and covers about 70% of the Earth's surface. Water is essential for life and safe water is critical for good health. People must drink water daily and it is the single most important ingredient in feeding and sustaining a growing world. Water’s many uses for drinking, recreation, sanitation, hygiene, agriculture, industry, and medicine make it our most precious global resource. Accessible, clean and safe water for drinking, sanitation, and hygiene is critical to sustain human life and prevent waterborne illness.

With its many uses for drinking, recreation, sanitation, hygiene, and industry, water is our most precious global resource. Clean and safe drinking water is critical to sustain human life and without it waterborne illness can be a serious problem. Water, which is necessary for recreational water activities like swimming, also helps promote healthy living. Often, water’s vital role is most apparent during an emergency or disaster.

Answers to your water-related questions can be found within our healthy water pages, below.