Last summer I spent several days with a Ugandan family in a suburb outside Kampala, Uganda’s capital.  When this family needs water for washing, cooking, and drinking, the daughters walk about a quarter of a mile to go get it.  After a few hours of insisting that i wanted to go with them to collect water, they finally agreed to let me join them.  I took a jerrycan in each hand and followed them down the hill to the neighborhood water source, which looks like this:

This isn’t a pump or a spigot that you can turn off and on; this is a drain.  This is not clean water.

It’s no secret that clean water is one of the most basic human needs.  It’s also no secret that lack of access to clean water is one of the largest contributors to illness, death, and poverty in many communities all over the world.  That’s one of the reasons the UN General Assembly designated March 22 as World Water Day.

Dirty water is a big problem, and this weekend, World Water Day events are taking place in communities everywhere to raise money and awareness for clean water solutions.  And here’s just a taste (or should I say a sip?) of what some people are doing for the clean water cause on Firstgiving:

• Kyle is raising money for WaterAid America with a fundraising page connected to H20pia on Facebook.
• Peace Corps Volunteer Katie recently met her fundraising goal for Water Charity by asking her friends to throw money down the toilet.  Intrigued?  You can read more about it on her fundraising page.
• Megana and Becky are “running for running water,” training for a half marathon to raise money for Play Pumps International.
• Water First International is hosting a “Carry 5″ event in Seattle, Tuscon, and Boulder.  Participants will carry 5 gallons of water for 5 kilometers to raise money and awareness for those around the world who take this difficult walk every day.

Are you invested in the clean water cause?  What are you doing for World Water Day?  Let us know by posting a comment below.