<ul><li>In a survey by LocalCircles, only 3% of people said that they do not need to purify tap water. </li><li>The quality of water worsens as it travels through the trunk mains to service reservoirs before reaching homes. </li><li>A majority of respondents – 44% – said that they purify water using a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system. </li></ul>The number of Indians who believe that the quality of tap water they receive from municipal bodies is improving has gone up in the last one year. In a survey by LocalCircles, 44% said that their tap water is good or higher, up from 35% last year. “The reason may be that at the district and panchayat level there is more community involvement and there is more regular quality testing being conducted under the Jal Jeevan Mission,” the survey said. While access to tap water has been improving in urban and rural households, the quality of tap water determines the health of its users as water borne diseases like amoebic dysentery and cholera can spread through it. The survey data shows that while 15% of respondents rated the piped water they receive in their homes as “very good”, 29% rated it as “good” and 32% said it was “average”. On the other hand, 10% of the respondents rated piped water supplied to their homes as “poor”, 4% as “very poor”, while 8% of those surveyed stated that they don’t get piped water in their homes. Only 3% of respondents said that they do not need to purify tap water before drinking it. To ensure the water they receive is fit for drinking, a majority of them – 44% – purify it with a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system, while 28% use a water purifier. Only 2% of the respondents said that they use chlorination, alum and other minerals, while 11% boil water before using it. On the other hand, 5% of the respondents said that they use clay vessels for purification; 5% however don’t purify water but instead buy bottled water. Only 2% don’t purify water currently and consume tap water as it comes. According to Transparency Market Research, the water purifier market in India is expected to reach a valuation of $4.1 billion by the end of 2024, as against $1.1 billion in 2015. The RO sector has held 37% of the market share in terms of total revenue in 2015. Why your tap water may be impure According to a report published by ORF in 2019, in urban areas, the quality of water produced at filtration plants may be top-class, but it worsens as the water travels through the trunk mains to service reservoirs. The LocalCircles survey report says that the gradual deterioration in the quality of water is because most of the last-mile pipeline networks are poorly maintained. In many cases, especially in the slums, they are laid through open storm-water drains or in close proximity to municipal sewers. With intermittent water supply, pipes are fully pressurized for only a couple of hours daily. “During the long no-supply periods, contaminated surrounding groundwater seeps in as the pressure in the pipes drops to zero. This contaminated water eventually flows out of the taps whenever the municipal water supply service is resumed,” says the LocalCircles report.

India’s tap water quality is improving but very few are confident of drinking it without purifying

Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> will launch the '<keyword id="6353716" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jal-Shakti">Jal Shakti</keyword> Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' <keyword id="6359590" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Campaign">campaign</keyword> on <keyword id="129666" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Water-Day">World Water Day</keyword> on Monday aimed to take water conservation at the grassroots level through people's participation. The campaign will be undertaken across the country, in both rural and urban areas, with the theme "catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls". It will be implemented from March 22 to November 30 -- the pre-monsoon and monsoon period in the country. The Prime Minister will launch the campaign at 12.30 p.m. via video conferencing, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The campaign will be launched as a 'Jan Andolan' (public movement) to take water conservation at the grassroots level through people's participation. It is intended to nudge all stakeholders to create rainwater harvesting structures suitable to the climatic conditions and subsoil strata, to ensure proper storage of rainwater. After the event, <keyword id="82265" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gram-Sabhas">Gram Sabhas</keyword> will be held in all the Gram Panchayats of each district (except in the poll-bound states) to discuss issues related to water and water conservation. Gram Sabhas will also take 'Jal Shapath' for water conservation. In the presence of the Prime Minister, Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh will also sign Memorandum of Agreement to implement the Ken Betwa Link Project -- the first project of the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of <keyword id="6410614" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="rivers">rivers</keyword>. The agreement heralds the beginning of interstate cooperation to implement the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to carry water from areas that have surplus water to drought prone and water deficit areas, through the interlinking of rivers. This project involves transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa River through the construction of Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project. It will provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh hectare, drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people and also generate 103 MW of hydropower. The project will be of immense benefit to the water starved region of Bundelkhand, especially to the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh. It will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects to ensure that scarcity of water does not become an inhibitor for development in the country. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-9-pro-specs-oneplus-9e-specs-and-price-leak-and-oneplus-9-series-launch-date/articleshow/81168227.cms">OnePlus 9 series specifications and features leaked – here's everything we know about the upcoming OnePlus smartphones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/checkout-review-of-moto-g10-power-mobile-phone-review-and-features-information/articleshow/81583548.cms">Moto G10 Power mobile review – big battery on a shoestring budget</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/future-retail-shares-take-a-massive-hit-as-it-loses-the-case-against-amazon-in-delhi-high-court/articleshow/81583165.cms">Future Retail shares take a massive hit as it loses the case against Amazon in Delhi High Court</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-9r-will-be-the-companys-next-affordable-smartphone-india-launch-confirmed-for-march-23/articleshow/81586104.cms">OnePlus 9R will be the company’s next affordable smartphone, India launch confirmed for March 23</a>

PM Modi to launch 'Catch the Rain' campaign on World Water Day

World Water day: Major facts about global water conditions, which calls for urgent action

As people increasingly feel the heat of global warming, the issue of water conversation is surfacing across all nations. However, <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has been doing this for centuries. Water has been conserved in India since ancient times. Our illustrious ancestors used India's "<keyword id="14589448" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="khandani-khazana" source="Orion">Khandani Khazana</keyword>" (family treasure) or stepwells to store "liquid assets" or water. They are most common in western India and are also found in the other arid regions of the Indian subcontinent. Step-wells' construction is mainly utilitarian, though they may include embellishments of architectural significance and be temple tanks. Stepwells are examples of the many storages and irrigation tanks developed in India, mainly to cope with seasonal fluctuations in water availability. These were built to make reaching, maintaining and managing groundwater levels easier for people. The stepwell can be considered to originate from the need to ensure water during drought and in the deep relationship of faith in the water Gods as conspicuous even in the Vedas of around 1,000 BC. Stepwells were used not only for water conservation and access but also as sites for religious ceremonies and rituals. Some were used as monuments and were highly decorated with elaborately carved images. According to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, by 2030, it is targeted to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. Thus, replicating India's ancient model, many nations can build stepwell in areas where there is water scarcity, which will save hundreds of lives. In India, stepwells are mainly found in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and <keyword id="37102" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="andhra-pradesh" source="Orion">Andhra Pradesh</keyword>. These step wells generally depend on the recharge from nearby surface water sources, like village ponds, streams, canals and, in some cases, nearby rivers. The location of these ancient wells is unique in that even during dry periods of the year, most of these wells have water in them, highlighting the ancient wisdom of craftsmen in those days. Most of these wells are part of phreatic aquifers of various formations such as alluvial, basaltic and phyllite. In view of their structural uniqueness as well as their role in water conservation, the Government of Gujarat decided under mission mode, from 2007-08 to 2011-12, to revive, clean up and rejuvenate these stepwells, which are named "Jal-Mandir" - Water Temple - as these are part of our national heritage. Nearly 1200 Jal- Mandirs were identified all over the State. Considering the importance of these heritage structures, the Government of Gujarat renovated several stepwells under <keyword id="264978" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jal-mandir" source="Orion">Jal Mandir</keyword> Yojana. The aim of the scheme is to see that these heritage structures are protected, made useful to the community, and appropriately maintained. Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> also referred to the Jal Mandir campaign during his interaction with Gram Panchayats and Pani Samitis on Jal Jeevan Mission in October 2021. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) took up the works per National Conservation Policy 2014 to renovate and restore all the ASI monuments, including natural and man-made step wells, ports, ponds, tanks and lakes. The <keyword id="6377129" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="government-of-india" source="Orion">Government of India</keyword> is also contemplating a specific National policy protecting natural and artificial step wells, ports, ponds, tanks or lakes. The Ministry of Jal Shakti under the Government of India has taken up a nationwide campaign, "Jal Shakti Abhiyan - Catch the Rain", with the theme "Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls", for creating appropriate rainwater harvesting structures in urban and rural areas of all the districts in the country, with people's active participation, during the pre-monsoon and monsoon periods. The campaign, primarily focusing on saving and conserving rainwater, was launched by the Prime Minister on 22 March 2021, World Water Day. Revival of traditional rainwater harvesting structures like stepwells has been envisaged as a critical part of this initiative. The concept of Jal-Mandirs may be handy in those areas where the groundwater table is high and no assured supply schemes are available, namely tube wells or municipal supplies. Replication of this concept in such areas appears advantageous. In the absence of electricity in those times, the stepwells were a reliable source of groundwater for the population, travellers and princely armies on the move. The concept is innovative, especially from the view of the sustainability of the village water supply system by inculcating a sense of responsibility among people and motivating them to maintain the system by attaching social and religious facets to it, which is vital for water conservation.

Centuries-old Indian stepwells may serve as a solution to water conservation during the scorching heat

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insider Picks</a> writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c9297f26123ca5a7b6ba638-2400/shutterstock407755582.jpg" border="0" alt="shutterstock_407755582" style="color: #000000;" data-mce-source="Shutterstock/Red Mango" data-link="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/pongsakorn+jun" /><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/pongsakorn+jun">Shutterstock/Red Mango</a></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Friday, March 22 is World Water Day. </li><li>If there's anything we can do to pay homage to that wonderful elixir of life that envelops the majority of our big blue planet, it's cut back on our plastic usage.</li><li>Below is a roundup of all the ways we can (mostly) avoid plastics in our endless pursuit of hydrating our earthly wares.</li><li>Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-reduce-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9 cheap solutions for people who want to waste less and wean themselves off single-use items</a></li></ul>With <a href="http://harvardpolitics.com/united-states/planet-plastic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">roughly 9.2 billion tons of plastic</a> flowing into our oceans each year, it's hard to fathom the impact we're having on our big, mostly blue marble. According to a recent study conducted by some 10,000 volunteers on behalf of <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/18876/these-10-companies-are-flooding-the-planet-with-throwaway-plastic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greenpeace</a> and the <a href="https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Break Free From Plastic movement</a>, the majority of these plastics are coming from single-use plastic bottles produced by brands like <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/18876/these-10-companies-are-flooding-the-planet-with-throwaway-plastic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Nestlé</a>.But, while the world is beginning to recognize and consider that soda and other soft drinks are little more than sugar, water, and carbonation (as the case may be), there's one habit many of us still can't shake: bottled water. But what's a poor bottled-water fiend to do? "Filtering water at home," it turns out, "is the best and most cost-effective solution," senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Dr. David Andrews tells Insider Picks."In many cases, bottled water may not necessarily be better than tap water," Andrews says, "and oftentimes companies do not provide much disclosure in terms of where that water came from and whether it is any better than municipal water."So, now that you have no reason not to kick your plastic water bottle habit, how do you know which kind of filtration system to get, or whether it's even worth getting one at all? The <a href="https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EWG has a Tapwater Database of 30 million state water records</a>. Enter your zip code, and you'll learn all about all the terrifying things that may be coming out of your tap and which contraptions or systems will help eliminate, or at least neutralize them. Friday, March 22 is World Water Day, and whether you have a shred of concern for the environment or not, here are a few ways to give the oceans - and your bank account - a break. You're welcome.<a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a> Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>. Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.

11 smarter buys that can help curb your plastic bottle use - from a $32 reusable water bottle to a $210 filtration system

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c93bf16daa50703ea06179e-1000/water drought africa.jpg" border="0" alt="water drought africa" data-mce-source="Ute Grabowsky/Photothek/Getty Images" data-mce-caption="A child drinks water from a dispenser in Dano, Burkina Faso." /></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>March 22 marks <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/world-water-day">World Water Day,</a> a United Nations campaign to raise awareness of the global water crisis.</li><li>One in four people will face a recurring water shortage by 2050, according to UN estimates.</li><li>To tackle this crisis, an Israeli company called Watergen has developed a machine that pulls clean water out of thin air. </li><li>The machine comes in various sizes, including a large version for factories and villages and a small version for offices and homes. </li></ul>World Water Day aims to raise awareness of the global water crisis, which could leave one in four people with a <a href="https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-6-clean-water-and-sanitation.html">recurring water shortage</a> by 2050. As the global population <a href="http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html">continues to climb</a>, that means more than 2 billion people could soon be starved for world's most precious resource.To tackle this mounting issue, one company has turned to a solution in nature.Since 2009, the Israeli company <a href="http://www.watergen.com/">Watergen</a> has been developing and implementing a technology that extracts clean water from thin air. It all comes down to perfecting a basic <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">science</keyword>. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/african-cities-water-crisis-2019-3">African cities are running out of water, and the continent needs $66 billion to avoid a crisis of disease and dehydration</a>Our atmosphere is full of water vapor, which turns into condensation in cooler temperatures. We often see this effect in the summer, when water droplets collect on the outside of an ice-cold glass.Watergen's machine generators harness this same technology by pulling air from the atmosphere, condensing it into water, filtering it for impurities like metal or bacteria, and adding minerals so that it's drinkable.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c93dbe65dfa9971ae0cf357-2400/pilot new delhi 3.jpg" border="0" alt="watergen Pilot New Delhi" data-mce-source="Watergen" data-mce-caption="Watergen's pilot program in New Delhi." /></div></div></div>The process is similar to that of an air conditioner, only Watergen's machines can produce 5 to 6 times more water. The technology has also been <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/watergen-announces-new-automotive-division-that-will-change-the-transportation-industry-forever-300772222.html">tested and approved</a> by the EPA.Watergen's machines come in different sizes, all with different capacities. The largest model provides up to 5,000 liters of water (the equivalent of 18,000 water bottles) per day to places like factories and villages. There's also a medium-sized version for schools, hospitals, and buildings.The company's newest model, a home or office generator called "Genny," produces around 27 liters a day, or the equivalent of 54 water bottles. The model will soon be sold through distributors, who determine the price, but the estimated cost is around $1,500 per unit. Watergen's larger machines have already been introduced to communities around the world, including some in China, India, Vietnam, Mexico, and Brazil. <h2>Watergen's machines can help during a crisis</h2>When a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-camp-fire-death-toll-most-destructive-in-history-2018-11">devastating string of wildfires</a> swept California in November, the company used its generator to provide fresh water to local police and firefighters on the ground. Last August, it also distributed water to Kerala, India, after the state endured <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/483-dead-in-kerala-floods-and-landslides-losses-more-than-annual-plan-outlay-pinarayi-vijayan-5332306/">massive floods and landslides</a> that killed nearly 500 people. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c644612598e2335743255b4-2400/cape town drought.jpg" border="0" alt="cape town drought" data-mce-source="Kyodo News/Getty Images" data-mce-caption="People wait in line for water in Cape Town, South Africa." /></div></div></div>But Watergen's primary purpose isn't to serve disaster zones. It's to address the global water shortage. "We think this is the solution for the world in the long-run," said Maxim Pasik, the company's executive chairman. "It's taking out all the plastic bottles, all the logistics of bringing water from trucks."In Cape Town, South Africa, government trucks distribute gallons of water to local households. Residents also <a href="https://www.citylab.com/environment/2018/07/how-cape-town-got-to-the-brink-of-water-catastrophe/564800/">line up for hours</a> to fill their plastic jugs with water from local springs, which for some necessitates a <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2018/02/23/as-cape-towns-water-runs-out-the-rich-drill-wells-the-poor-worry-about-eating/">trek of multiple miles</a>. Many residents have taken to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/african-cities-water-crisis-2019-3">hoarding water in their homes</a>, which can create a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes.Last year, Cape Town began counting down to "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cape-town-day-zero-photos-inequality-2018-2">Day Zero</a>," when it was estimated to run completely out of water. The city seems to have thwarted the crisis for now, but it still faces the looming threat of <a href="https://qz.com/africa/1525526/cape-towns-day-zero-water-shortage-fear-spreads-in-south-africa/">another drought</a>. Many African cities are undergoing similarly dire circumstances, but Watergen doesn't yet have the capacity to serve every community in need. As it attempts to scale its production, the company is also working to make sure residents are aware of its technology. "We need to educate people," said Pasik. "They need to understand that this source of water is trustworthy."<h2>There are still major obstacles to addressing the water shortage</h2>Pasik said Watergen doesn't have any immediate competitors, but it's not the only company converting air into water. The startup <a href="https://www.zeromasswater.com/contact-us/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=zero%20mass%20water&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-384047351745&amp;hsa_grp=50186269833&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_mt=e&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;hsa_ad=258434142190&amp;hsa_acc=2226991964&amp;hsa_kw=zero%20mass%20water&amp;hsa_cam=981289406&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6s7ko8DZ3QIVjJ6zCh00sAurEAAYASAAEgLT6PD_BwE">Zero Mass Water</a> has adopted a similar <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zero-mass-water-solar-panels-solution-water-crisis-2019-1">water-harvesting process</a> using solar panels. The company's panels are around the same price as "Genny" - $2,000 (plus around $500 for installation) - but they save on the cost of electricity. The main drawback is that they can only deliver about 2 to 5 liters of water a day. In both cases, weather and climate <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/31/tech/water-from-air-startups/index.html">pose certain limitations</a>. Zero Mass Water's panels work best in sunny areas and won't function in freezing temperatures, while Watergen tends to perform best in hot, humid climates. One added benefit of Watergen's machines is that they're designed to release clean air back into a home or office. But when it comes to providing reliable fresh water to billions of people by 2050, the company has a long way to go.

These machines pull clean drinking water out of thin air, and they might be a solution to the global water crisis

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58c2d2e26e20041a008b5627-1200" alt="woman girl swimming bathing pool water skin face relax calm" data-mce-source="Unsplash / Haley Phelps" data-link="https://unsplash.com/photos/OcqbcPazqt8"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/OcqbcPazqt8">Unsplash / Haley Phelps</a></img></div></div></div>Water, water everywhere - but less 0.5% of Earth's reserves are drinkable.That's just one shocking fact that Neil deGrasse Tyson and five experts dropped at the 2015 <a href="http://www.amnh.org/explore/amnh.tv/isaac-asimov-memorial-debate" target="_blank">Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate</a> at the American Museum of Natural History.The event focused on the surprising origins, scarcity, and value of the precious liquid. For&#xa0;World Water Day (March 22), here are a handful of facts that put recent water shortages, like&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/california-drought-graphic-extreme-sierra-nevada-snowpack-low-2015-12">California's recent&#xa0;drought</a>, into stark perspective.&#xa0;

You might be drinking water from the last Ice Age, and 16 other striking facts about Earth's life-giving liquid

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/500025c0ecad04d66800000b-1103-828/bulls-5.jpg" alt="hosed, watered, screaming, AP" border="0" /></div></div></div>Water, water everywhere - but less than half of a percent of Earth's reserves are drinkable.That's just one shocking fact that Neil deGrasse Tyson and five experts dropped at the 2015 <a href="http://www.amnh.org/explore/amnh.tv/isaac-asimov-memorial-debate" target="_blank">Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate</a> at the American Museum of Natural History, which focused on the surprising origins, scarcity, and value of water.Before the event, Tech Insider joined a closed-door meeting with Tyson and the five experts.Here are just a handful of facts that put water shortages like <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/california-drought-graphic-extreme-sierra-nevada-snowpack-low-2015-12">California's crippling drought</a> into stark perspective on World Water Day (March 22).

17 cool facts you never knew about water

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56e96fb09105841c008b6b12-2500-1698/rtsanxc.jpg" alt="Water, Countries" data-mce-source="Omar Sobhani/Reuters" />Omar Sobhani/ReutersChildren pump water from a public water pump on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan.</div></div></div>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 <a href="https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-water-developing-world">die</a> 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 <a href="http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/freshwater-crisis/">National Geographic.</a> 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 <a href="http://matadornetwork.com/change/40-shocking-facts-about-water/">3.7 miles</a> to collect clean water. With <a href="http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/about/en/">World Water Day</a> 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:

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

An anonymous Robin Hood-esque figure is giving away thousands of dollars in Dogecoin to help address income inequality, especially in the Bay Area.
The figure, who calls himself "Hood" and goes by the Twitter handle <a href="https://twitter.com/savethemhood">@savethemhood</a>, has posted a bunch of flyers around San Francisco with a QR code for an unspecified amount of Dogecoin. 
He seemed to foreshadow this late last month:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
I'm here to expose my internal greed and the greed of others. I'm here to put people above profits. I'm here to give you my coat.
- Hood (@savethemhood) <a href="https://twitter.com/savethemhood/statuses/453969002302173184">April 9, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
And then, today, he unleashed these:
<iframe width="612" height="710" frameborder="0" src="//instagram.com/p/mk8aemDbGU/embed/"></iframe>
<iframe width="612" height="710" frameborder="0" src="//instagram.com/p/mk2DrOjbL2/embed/"></iframe>
He's also "tipping" influential people on Twitter, including Medium's Evan Williams and Ashton Kutcher, thousands of dollars worth of Dogecoin. Here's what he said about the project.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Today I tip the influential, those that understand technology, those that can help distribute to the poor.
- Hood (@savethemhood) <a href="https://twitter.com/savethemhood/statuses/453968737754828801">April 9, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
I'm here to expose my internal greed and the greed of others. I'm here to put people above profits. I'm here to give you my coat.
- Hood (@savethemhood) <a href="https://twitter.com/savethemhood/statuses/453969002302173184">April 9, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
We <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/11000-dogecoin-for-world-water-day-2014-3">spotlighted</a> "Hood" last month when he gave away $11,000 on World Water Day.
According to Ben Doernberg of the Dogecoin Foundation, "Hood" has given away approximately $20,000 - 45 million in Dogecoin - today.
Let's see what happens now.

Someone Is Giving Away Huge Sums Of Dogecoin All Around San Francisco, And Nobody Knows Who It Is

<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/52f64b42eab8eadf2755d088-1200-924/photo%20(27).jpg?maxX=800" border="0" alt="dogecoin" width="800" />Joe Weisenthal</div></div>An anonymous donor has donated $11,000-worth of Dogecoin in honor of Saturday's World Water Day, in the latest charitable roundup by the Dogecoin community.
That's equivalent to 14 million Dogecoin. 
Here's the proof from the Dogecoin Tip Bot, which confirms all Dogecoin tips:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
WOW! <a href="https://twitter.com/savethemhood">@savethemhood</a> just donated 14000000 DOGE to <a href="https://twitter.com/Doge4water">@doge4water</a> - we are at 100% <a href="http://t.co/0KfOuhfXJL">http://t.co/0KfOuhfXJL</a>
- Doge Tip Bot (@tipdoge) <a href="https://twitter.com/tipdoge/statuses/445014190697508864">March 16, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
"Hood" says that in his anonymous capacity that he wishes to "take from the greedy to feed and blanket the poor." He also describes himself as an "artist" and "meddler." However, he has assured reddit that the funds he used to make the donation were not ill-gotten. 
"Do not be concerned, friends," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/dogecoin/comments/20idcv/my_name_is_hood_im_here_for_you/">he wrote on reddit</a>. "These are not stolen crypto. I convert the paper fiat of the wealthy into crypto for your to spread. Please help those in need."
And he Tweeted this about his identity.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Not to worry about my identity, reddit friends. I live in the world of proxies, disposable devices, and roaming vehicles. More very soon...
- Hood (@savethemhood) <a href="https://twitter.com/savethemhood/statuses/445391318848503808">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Perhaps just as impressive - though not surprising - is that the Dogers had already raised $20,000 on their own. The community has previously raised more than $25,000 <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/20/jamaican-bobsled-team-raises-dogecoin-winter-olympics">to help send the Jamaican bobsled team to Sochi.</a>
Paul Young, director of digital for charity:water, the group that will receive the donations, said the funds will be used to bring clean water to Kenyans through our local partner Action Against Hunger, according to a statement from Dogecoin.com. 
 The campaign was initiated by Eric Nakagawa, the co-founder of internet humor site ICanHasCheezburger and a member of the Dogecoin Foundation, the site said.

Anonymous Redditor Makes Massive $11,000 Dogecoin Donation On Twitter

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/569521d9dd089578468b45a6-1040-745/nano%20toilet.jpeg" alt="nano toilet" data-mce-source="Cranfield University">Cranfield University</img></div></div></div>Five years after&#xa0;the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation <a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Reinvent-the-Toilet-Challenge">first challenged the world</a> to design a sustainable and inexpensive toilet, researchers from Cranfield University may have a viable contender.It's known as the Nano Membrane Toilet, and it was<a href="https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/Research/Research-activity/Current-projects/research-projects/NanoMembrane-Toilet"> funded by the Gates Foundation</a> in September 2012 for $710,000.March 22 is <a href="http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/about/en/">World Water Day</a>, an appropriate time to highlight the grim fact that&#xa0;<a href="http://www.one.org/international/issues/water-and-sanitation/">more than 2.4 billion people</a>&#xa0;around the world still live in unsanitary conditions.Without access to clean running water, these at-risk communities face life-threatening sanitation-related diseases.The Nano Membrane toilet's&#xa0;design is meant to offset this scarcity. It's waterless, easy to use, and provided it receives additional funding for field tests, could very well be part of the&#xa0;future of sanitation.Alison Parker, a lecturer in International Water and Sanitation at Cranfield Water <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="science">Science</keyword> Institute, says her team's new design is meant to serve poor urban areas, as those will be easiest to accommodate."It will be very hard to carry out the scheduled maintenance" in remote areas, Parker tells Tech Insider, mostly because the toilet needs maintenance every six months at a minimum to replace certain parts. "Instead, the toilet will be used in dense urban areas where a number of factors make providing good sanitation very challenging, but where it would be possible to facilitate visits from a maintenance technician."The toilet's actual design is rather complex.After a person has done their business and closed the lid, the rotating toilet bowl turns 270 degrees to deposit the waste in a vat underneath. A scraper tool then wipes off any residual waste from the bowl.<div><iframe src="https://gfycat.com/ifr/LikelyGoodBlackmamba" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="800" height="450" style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;-webkit-transform: scale(1);"></iframe></div>The solid waste stays on the bottom while the liquid rises to the top.Extremely thin fibers, known as nanofibers, are arranged in bundles inside the chamber. They help move the water vapor that exists as part of the liquid waste into a vertical tube in the rear of the toilet.<div><iframe src="https://gfycat.com/ifr/FlippantPhonyHorsemouse" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="800" height="450" style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;-webkit-transform: scale(1);"></iframe></div>Next, water passes through specially designed beads that help condense the vapor into actual water, which flows down through the tube and settles in a tank at the front of the toilet.As for the solid waste that's left behind, a battery-powered mechanism lifts the remaining matter out of the toilet and into a separate holding chamber. There it's coated in a scent-suppressing wax and left to dry out.Every week, a local technician visits the community to remove the solid waste and water, and replace the toilet's batteries if needed. Residents can then use the water for tending to their plants, cleaning their homes, cooking, and bathing. The solid waste ends up at a thermo-processing plant to be turned into energy for the community.According to Parker, one toilet can accommodate <a href="http://www.trust.org/item/20160107184637-2c2nk/">up to 10 people</a> for no more than $0.05 per day, per user - in line with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's original criteria for the prize. Field testing will begin later this year, Parker says.<div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iX0jAn-iNng" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>One challenge moving forward, <a href="http://www.fastcoexist.com/3026114/take-a-seat-on-this-gates-funded-future-toilet-that-will-change-how-we-think-about-poop">which other designs have run into</a>, is scalability.While many designs work in theory, actually getting the toilets to the countries that need them isn't easy.Local communities have to create jobs specifically so that the toilets are safely and effectively maintained, and that training process can take time. Some scientists <a href="http://www.fastcoexist.com/3026114/take-a-seat-on-this-gates-funded-future-toilet-that-will-change-how-we-think-about-poop">have spent years</a> working on their designs, and they still aren't perfect.Parker admits the problem of toilet paper is still one the Nano Membrane Toilet has yet to resolve, as users have no choice but to toss the paper into a nearby waste bin.In the future, the team hopes to devise a way for that paper to be burnt. It's not the most environmentally friendly disposal method, but if it means adding years onto people's lives, it could be a winning solution. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-water-cannon-get-rid-of-smog-2016-1">This monster water cannon in China floods the air to get rid of smog</a></h3> <div> <div> <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="h2dHUyMDE69Z21wHQSYfp1Aja6fMN3Yu" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> <script> if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; } RunFunctions.push(function() { var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'h2dHUyMDE69Z21wHQSYfp1Aja6fMN3Yu',{ autoplay: 'false' }); }); </script> <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div> </div> <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script> </div>

Bill Gates is backing a revolutionary waterless toilet - here's how it works

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51944284.cms" /> The past few weeks seem to reflect the reality of the <keyword id="94534" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="indian-media">Indian media</keyword> and its relationship (if indeed there is one) with the Indian government and the broader public service it is expected to deliver. No, we are not talking about the one-page ads of government success stories though those too offer a sneak peek at the relationship between the two pillars of Indian democracy. We are talking more from the content/editorial side. These stories pertain to drought-like conditions in Marathwada, statements made by RBI governor and government reactions thereof and Press Freedom Index released two days ago which paints a not so good picture of press freedom in India, to put it mildly. 
 
The Latur district in Marathwada where the water crisis accentuated is a case in point. It was a disaster that was waiting to happen as drought-like conditions had existed for some time in the region. With Maharashtra receiving roughly 70 percent below normal rainfall in 2014 and approximately 60 percent below normal rainfall in 2015 compared to 12 and 14 percent for respective periods for the country, the signs were ominous. The fact is some print media did see it coming. A few media reports were published in 2015, but mainly the matter did not receive the attention it ought to have received considering the disastrous consequences. The situation worsened when Manjara Dam, which supplies to Latur city, got completely dry and had been so ever since Feb 25th. Latur also saw the imposition of section 144 of CRPC (now removed) relating to unlawful assemblies for preventing water-related riots, just one day before the World Water Day on March 21. The government has meanwhile supplied Jaldoot trains to the drought affected region which is an innovative strategy to deal with the situation. The crisis came to the forefront of news reporting with the Bombay High Court ruling that no Indian Premier League Cricket Matches should be held in Maharashtra as roughly 60,000 litres a day would be used for maintenance of pitches. It is interesting to note that post this a lot of articles /coverage has happened on the issue. But a broader question is what are the solutions so that another Latur like situation does not arise in the future? Few seem to be thinking about that aspect. Maybe this will happen with farmers and people becoming lesser dependent on monsoons alone for their livelihood. What are the governments and we as citizens doing about it? It is a question we must ponder over. 
 
The second issue which has been in news recently has been Raghuram Rajan and his remarks in US. The comments caused a butterfly effect and resulted in an ensuing political storm with ministers in the Central Government responding to the fact that they don’t agree with Rajan’s analogy of India being a one-eyed king in the land of the blind. Rajan further in a convocation address at the National Institute of Bank Management on April 20, 2016, put the title of his speech as ‘Words Matter but so Does Intent’. He clarified his position by stating that "Growth... is just one measure of performance, the level of per capita GDP is also important.” He also lamented the fact that in a ‘news-hungry country, however, our domestic papers headlined the phrase I used. To be fair, they also offered the surrounding context, but few read beyond the headline.’ So what does it tell about Indian media, not much but the fact that headlines can indeed be deceptive and can very often not end up portraying what the background context of comments was? Rajan was ‘not denigrating the success’ of India or its policymakers rather he was ‘emphasizing the need to do more’. 
 
The third issue is about the release of the Global Press Freedom Index in which Indian ranked a dismal 133. The 2016 ‘World Press Freedom Index’ was published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and was lead in country rankings by Finland, which retained its top spot for the sixth consecutive year, followed by Netherlands and Norway. India’s rank has improved three positions since 2015 from 136. India’s neighbours were also placed similarly with China being ranked 176th. The report also said that PM Narendra Modi seems to be “indifferent” to the threats against journalists. The report also shows a disturbing decline in respect for media freedom at both global and regional levels. 
 
Broadly speaking these three stories offer a look at the role that media plays and ought to be playing in the Indian democracy. It needs to improve further. The role ought to be more constructive and in the interests of various sections of the population, and the need is to go 'beyond headlines' to find the real intent of policymakers and policies. Over the next decade, media must regain its credibility by doing on the ground coverage of rural areas and noticing lapses so that India’s development reaches rural India where the majority of India still resides. 
 
(The article is co-authored with Sankalp Sharma, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Competitiveness, India. Amit Kapoor is Chair, Institute for Competitiveness &amp; Editor of Thinkers. The views expressed are personal. Amit can be reached at <a href="mailto:amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in">amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in</a> and tweets @kautiliya) 
 
<a href="http://news24-d50.kxcdn.com/media/uploads/2015/05/25/news2-1-of-1.jpg">Image source</a>

The State of Indian Media

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53120c6769beddc76af07867-1200-924/philip-james-lot18-miracle-machine.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="Philip James Lot18 Miracle Machine" width="480" />WikipediaPhilip James</div></div>If a device that turns water into wine in three days sounds too good to be true, that's because it is.
Two weeks ago, we wrote about Philip James' new startup, The Miracle Machine. James co-founded Lot18, a wine sale company, and we were interested in his next venture. 
The Miracle Machine, James said, was a kitchen appliance that could turn water into wine with a few extra ingredients and recipes on a mobile app. Business Insider wrote one of - if not the first - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/miracle-machine-how-to-make-wine-at-home-2014-3">articles on The Miracle Machine</a>. Ultimately, 600 publications wrote about James' device and the articles were read 500 million times.
The Miracle Machine was a hoax and we were duped. Here's why we fell for James' prank. 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5320bbe5ecad0423252ef2e2-428-321/wine-miracle-machine-1.png" border="0" alt="wine miracle machine" />The Miracle MachineThe fake Miracle Machine product. It's just a piece of wood.</div></div></div>
In late February, I met a former Lot 18 employee for lunch. We discussed James; he left the company late last year and now, this person said, he was working on a new startup.
Lot18 was a wine sale site that raised more than $30 million before shuttering products and laying off most of its staff. The new startup was being circulated in an email chain among other former Lot18ers and it was called "The Miracle Machine." 
I checked out the website and it looked legitimate. It listed James and a fellow Lot18 executive, Kevin Boyer, as the product's founders. They even made a video showcasing the product and came up with a founding story.
Lot18 was one of the first New York startups I reported on at Business Insider. I covered all of its highs and lows. I haven't always written nice things about James' company, but there has always been a mutual respect between James and I. Or so I thought.
I emailed James on February 28 about Miracle Machine:
"I stumbled across your new startup, the wine maker. I was thinking about writing up your new venture. Any interest in chatting about it? It's good to see you're still in the same startup space."
On March 1, James wrote me back:
"I want to wait until we get it launched on kickstarter first - that should be very soon. Next week I hope, until then we're in a bit of a holding pattern."
I didn't want to wait until the rest of the world knew about Miracle Machine, so I asked if he'd mind me writing about his startup sooner:
"If you don't mind, I'd like to go ahead and post a story about what you're up to and then when you're ready for launch I'd love to chat with you and see a demo (or even past failed experiments with the device)."
James wrote back and said "OK."
With James' confirmation of Miracle Machine and our past working relationship, I felt fine hitting publish.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
If it works, will be bigger than the Soda Stream-Lot18 Founder Invents Tiny Device That Turns Water to Wine In 3 Days <a href="http://t.co/VGw2HsZpty">http://t.co/VGw2HsZpty</a>
- Alyson Shontell (@ajs) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajs/statuses/439811852563128321">March 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
A few days later, James sent me another email.
"Wow. You set off an avalanche of press. Was not expecting that!" 
Today, I received another email from James.
"I think this will make you smile," he typed and attached a press release announcing the hoax.
I was furious and called James. He apologized for not telling me the truth and said he lied because of an non-disclosure agreement he had signed with a PR agency. The hoax, he explained, was for a charity called "Wine to Water." To drum up press for it, James says a global PR director, Scott Beaudoin of MSL, decided to dupe the media.
"I'm sorry you're upset," James told me when I called him. "But I think the tradeoff was worth it."
To the people I helped dupe by being duped myself, I'm sorry. I made a big mistake.
Here's the press release announcing the hoax, and my regrettable part in it. 
TRUE PURPOSE OF INTERNET SENSATION 'THE MIRACLE MACHINE' REVEALED Faux machine turns spotlight onto Wine to Water, a charity tackling the global water and sanitation crisis
(NEW YORK, NY - March, 12 2014) Internet sensation the "Miracle Machine", the first affordable wine making device for the home, is not a real device - it is just a piece of wood. The fictitious miracle, fronted by wine entrepreneurs Kevin Boyer and Philip James of CustomVine, has generated extensive media coverage around the world since its unveiling nearly two weeks ago. The disruptive program concept was initiated as a pro-bono campaign to support not-for-profit 'Wine to Water', an organization that provides people around the world with access to clean water, one of life's basic necessities. 
 
In just under two weeks, the Miracle Machine went viral with over 500 million media impressions as more than 200,000 people watched the Miracle Machine video, nearly 600 media outlets around the world covered the story, 6,000 people tweeted about it, and 7,000 people signed up for a potential crowd-funding platform to invest in the faux machine. 
 
The water crisis and poor sanitation affects more than 2.5 billion people around the world, with women and children suffering the most. Shockingly, one child dies every 22 seconds. To date, Wine to Water has provided more than 250,000 people in 17 countries with access to clean drinking water.
 "Almost two million children die each year from contaminated water and poor sanitation," said James. "The miracle of turning water to wine might remain out of reach, but Wine to Water has shown that the real miracle of providing clean water is easily within our grasp," he added. "The decision to put our wine credentials on the line and get involved was an easy one," said Boyer. "While many of us like to enjoy a fine glass of wine, too many people around the world cannot enjoy a clean glass of water, and that's unacceptable," he added. 
For one dollar, Wine to Water can provide clean water for one person for an entire year. Using a variety of water filters and wells, Wine to Water is changing lives at a fraction of the $499 price tag for the faux machine that so many were willing to buy or invest in. "For the cost of a bottle of fine wine, we provide a way to produce 99.9% pure drinking water to a family for up to five years and THAT is the true miracle. There is no life without water," says Doc Hendley, the founder of Wine to Water.
"The Wine community has been a long-term supporter of Wine to Water by sponsoring an array of wine tasting events with the proceeds being donated to those in need," says Boyer. "We cannot express how grateful we are for the attention our industry has given The Miracle Machine. However, what we need to do now is shift that attention from the Miracle Machine to the clean water and sanitation cause and support Doc and his devoted team."
In celebration of World Water Month and World Water Day on Saturday, March 22, Wine to Water is asking Miracle Machine enthusiasts to turn wine into water and save lives by purchasing a commemorative bottle of 'Miracle Machine' Wine that CustomVine has created exclusively for Winetowater.org. Supporters can also take immediate action and make a quick and simple donation by texting "MIRACLE" to 27722 (United States residents only).
Please visit www.themiraclemachine.net or www.WinetoWater.org to purchase your own Wine to Water Miracle Wine, make a donation or to be a part of the movement.

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Someone Is Giving Away Huge Sums Of Dogecoin All Around San Francisco, And Nobody Knows Who It Is

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Bill Gates is backing a revolutionary waterless toilet - here's how it works

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There Is No Machine That Turns Water Into Wine In 3 Days - Here's Why I Was Duped

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