Within the next forty-five years, the world population is estimated to increase by 2.6 billion people and the bulk of this increase will occur in areas that are the least developed.  This population growth, coupled with continued industrialization and urbanization of developing countries, will result in a heightened demand for water and an increase in polluted water, both of which will have serious adverse consequences on the environment.

Sadly, the availability of clean water in many underdeveloped areas of the world is extremely scarce as once dependable rainfall patterns are failing to replenish the local water table.  The United Nations estimates that in 2005, 1.1 billion people (20% of the global population) lacked access to safe, affordable, drinking water, and 2.6 billion people (40% of the global population) lacked access to safe sanitation.  About 80% of those lacking such access live in sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Asia and Southern Asia.  Without creative solutions to increase the availability of clean water, these impoverished communities around the world will continue to languish.