It is commonly known that waterborne diseases (WBD) cause well over 50% of the deaths and directly or indirectly cause 88% of the illnesses in developing countries. Each year, approximately four to five million children under the age of five years die from WBD (about 300 per hour). It is estimated that 50% of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by those suffering from WBD. The amount of WBD related deaths far exceeds the number of deaths caused by all other communicable diseases (AIDS, etc.) combined.

Contaminants in surface water (like pathogens) and excessive minerals in ground water are significant issues in developing and developed countries. The world’s supply of safe drinking water keeps decreasing while related issues (such as climate change) increase exponentially. Currently, available drinking water comprises approximately 0.007% of all of our planet’s water supply and is decreasing each day. Arsenic, for example, has recently been linked as a primary cause of cancer and Type II Diabetes. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element which exists in almost every country.