Ever wonder how far $35 million could go in helping to relieve the world’s water crisis? For that amount of money, you could dig 23,000 wells in India, give 500,000 families in Uganda cisterns for rainwater collection, or install filtration systems for 350,000 households in Honduras. Or if you’re Guy Laliberte, the founder of Cirque du Soleil, you could take one trip into space.

On September 30, Laliberte will begin a 12-day journey into space as part of a social and artistic mission called “Moving Stars for Earth and Water.” On October 9, as part of events taking place in 14 cities around the world, he will transmit pictures and videos from the International Space Station. The goal is to raise awareness of water issues for Laliberte’s ONE DROP Foundation, which is dedicated to the mission of “water for all, all for water.”

Here at the Food & Water Watch, we’re all for raising awareness of water issues and increasing water access. However, there are better ways to do it than a multimillion-dollar trip to the ISS. Unfortunately, when it comes to funding for clean water, resources rarely go where they’re actually needed. This is happening all over the world, including in the U.S. where our water infrastructure is rapidly deteriorating, making our water unsafe for human consumption, and causing environmental damage.

According to EPA, there is a funding gap of $22 billion a year for critical water projects, and the amount of federal funding available just keeps shrinking. If we want to keep our water clean and healthy, we must establish a dedicated source of funding for these water projects – otherwise known as a Clean Water Trust Fund.

For more information on why we need a Clean Water Trust fund, read on.

-Brittany Keats

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