1.1 billion people live without clean drinking water

2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation (2002, UNICEF/WHO JMP 2004)

1.8 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases.

3 900 children die every day from water borne diseases (WHO 2004)

Daily per capita use of water in residential areas:

- 350 litres in North America and Japan

- 200 litres in Europe

- 10-20 litres in sub-Saharan Africa

Over 260 river basins are shared by two or more countries mostly without adequate legal or institutional arrangements.

Quantity of water needed to produce 1 kg of:

- wheat: 1 000 L

- rice: 1 400 L

- beef: 13 000 L