Worldwide, more than one-billion people lack access to reliable sources of safe water, and twice that many lack access to sanitary human waste disposal systems, creating an environment that allows the disease-poverty cycle to thrive. Each year more than 1.8 million people - most of them children - die of diarrhea alone. Economic development also suffers as women and girls forego education and occupations to spend hours every day fetching water for their families. Girls as young as 12 years old walk 10 to 12 km twice daily and carry on their back an average of 45kg of water on their way back home. This chore keeps them busy all day and keeps them from school.