17 images showing how countries facing dire water shortages across the globe get this vital resource

Many countries throughout the world live without access to safe, clean water. Safe water is crucial to one's health - without it, people are more at risk to infectious diseases and even premature death. More than 840,000 people die every year from water-related illnesses.

By 2025, it's estimated that a staggering 1.8 billion people will live in areas facing water shortage, according to National Geographic.

Getting any kind of access to water is difficult for many countries - women living near the Sahara desert in Africa and in some parts of southern Asia have to walk an average of 3.7 miles to collect clean water. With World Water Day coming up on March 22, it is important that people are aware of the struggles countries are facing just to have clean, drinkable water. Here are some images showing how people around the world collect their water: