Groundwater represents 97% of the world’s available freshwater resources and is extensively abstracted throughout the world. While abundant in a global context, it can only de developed to a certain extent without causing environmental impacts.

Over the past two decades, the international science and development communities have referred to a global water crisis that is emerging. Looking at the current situation in virtually every region of the world, the facts show that the world water crisis is here.

The first-ever maps of global vulnerability to dengue, a mosquito-borne tropical virus that produces a painful condition of body joints sometimes referred to as "breakbone fever," were published by UN University's Canadian-based Institute for Water, Environment and Health.

This report explores a hybrid mechanism of microfinance, based on community networks and third party collateral for meso-scale loans, to provide a different financing model for small community water and sanitation supplies.