Q. What are the risks if I drink the tap water?
A. For most people, minor gastrointestinal illness. The biggest concerns are for those with compromised immune systems, such as people with HIV or who are undergoing chemotherapy. (taken from Boston.com)So we have to boil our water for a few days to avoid the stomach flu — it's a small inconvenience. Not to discount the issue (I realize this is a bigger problem depending on the situation), but it makes me appreciate what we have.
We still have water that comes directly to our homes — we don't have to walk for miles. Our water doesn't look dirty. We have kitchens that make boiling water simple. And even our contaminated water is a higher quality than the water almost one billion people drink on a daily basis (which makes the run on bottled water seem a little silly).
Enter Ian's birthday. Instead of asking for presents, he's asking for help in changing 250 lives. His goal is to raise $5,000 — the amount of money it takes to build a fresh water well in a village, providing 250+ people with clean drinking water. Just $24 can provide drinking water for one person for 20 years. Many people here are probably spending at least $24 for bottled water for just a few days. Consider boiling your water instead of choosing convenience, and donate your water money to someone who needs it more.
Help Ian celebrate his birthday, and help change the world.