OES Project Overview

The Problem

Citizens of the world are running out of potable water.

Worldwide potable water, water that is fit for human consumption, has a current demand which exceeds the supply, by at least 10 billion gallons/day. In 2005, World Health Organization authorities estimate that approximately 16% of the world's population or one billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. Worse yet, 3 million people die every year-an average of 8,219 deaths/day or more than 5 deaths/minute around the clock-due to a lack of potable water. In the next 10 years the UN and World Bank independently estimate that because of population demand and environmental contamination, 40% of people on earth will not have access to potable water. Ismail Serageldin, Vice President of the World Bank said:

"While the world's population has tripled, water demand has sextupled. If the wars of the past century were fought over oil, the wars of this century will be fought over water."