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Glen Canyon <br />E t or <br />Rita Schmidt Sudman <br />Writer <br />Sue McClurg <br />Editorial Assistance <br />Diana Farmer <br />Photos <br />Bob Maben <br />Phoenix Convention <br />Bureau <br />Rita Schmidt Sudman <br />U.S. Bureau of <br />Reclamation <br />The Water Education Foundation thanks all the <br />sources and experts who reviewed this magazine for <br />balance and accuracy. <br />The Water Education Foundation is a nonprofit, <br />impartial, tax - exempt organization. Its mission is to <br />create a better understanding of water issues and help <br />resolve water resource problems through educational <br />programs. <br />Western Water is published by the Water Education <br />Foundation, 717 K Street, Suite 317, Sacramento, <br />CA 95814 (916) 444 -6240, fax (916) 448- 7699. <br />An annual subscription to this bi- monthly magazine <br />is $45. The balance of the Foundation's informa- <br />tion program may be supported by larger amounts, <br />which are tax deductible. Printed on recycled paper <br />with soy -based ink. <br />E -mail: feedback@watereducation.org <br />Web page: www.watereducation.org <br />ISSN: 0735 -5424 <br />President: Michael Armstrong, <br />NorthTree Fire International <br />Executive Director: Rita Schmidt Sudman <br />Editor's Desk <br />I recently had the honor of <br />addressing a conference held <br />at the Metropolitan Water <br />District of Southern <br />California in preparation <br />for the World Water <br />Forum. The Forum, to be <br />held in March in Mexico <br />City, aims toward achiev- <br />ing the goal of reducing by <br />half the number of people Rita Sudman with Vanessa Tobin from UNICEF. <br />without sustainable access <br />to safe drinking water and sanitation systems. Through my work for Water <br />for People, an organization helping people in the developing world achieve <br />sustainable and self- sufficient sources of clean water, I've become aware that: <br />• 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. <br />• 2.4 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation. <br />• 2.2 million people, mostly children, die each year from diseases associated <br />with these problems. That means every day 6,000 children die of water- <br />borne diseases. <br />So it was gratifying to see water agencies, watershed management groups and <br />environmental interests come together in a meeting to support international <br />water relief programs. As Vanessa Tobin, UNICEF's chief of water, environment <br />and sanitation told the southern California conference, the appropriate technolo- <br />gies and resources are available to meet the United Nations' Millennium Develop- <br />ment Goals for water. What is required is social and political will power. The UN <br />goal is to cut in half the number of people who lack reliable and lasting access to <br />safe drinking water by 2015. Meeting this goal would cost the international <br />community $15 billion a year. To put that in perspective, we consumers spend <br />$100 billion every year for the convenience of bottled water. <br />Congressman Earl Blumenauer, author of a law to seek U.S. support for water <br />and sanitation programs in the developing world, also spoke to the group. The <br />Water for the Poor Act authored by Rep. Blumenauer, D- Portland, Ore., passed <br />the House and Senate with bipartisan support and was signed by President Bush. <br />It directs the executive branch to make foreign aid available for water projects. <br />Although the bill does not appropriate any funds specifically to carry out its <br />purposes, it is a start in recognizing that Americans can assist in helping to solve <br />water and sanitation problems in the developing world. Solving those problems <br />leads to improved education levels in those countries. <br />Contact Water for People www.water4people.org/ for more information <br />on programs and projects designed to help people in the developing world attain <br />clean water. <br />Listening to discussion of worldwide water problems, makes me realize we are <br />fortunate to debate our Western state water issues on an intense, but certainly on <br />a less life threatening level. However, the proposed Colorado River seven states' <br />agreement Sue McClurg details in this issue of Western Water is a truly significant <br />agreement on managing the long -term water supplies for Western cities. d• <br />See page 14 for more on WEF's latest activities, <br />or visit our web site at www.watereducation.org <br />WESTERN WATER <br />