WaterCan supports projects that help people in Africa gain improved access to clean water supplies for better health and lives. Try out this quiz to test your water knowledge. Roll over "Answer" for the solution.
1. What percentage of the world’s water supply is freshwater?
a) 20% b) 9% c) 3%
ANSWERc) 2.5% of the world’s water is freshwater. The rest is mostly undrinkable saltwater such as oceans and seas.
2. What is most common type of freshwater?
a) Glaciers with Icecaps & permanent snow
b) Lakes
c) Groundwater
ANSWERc) Glaciers & year-round snow make up about two-thirds of the world's freshwater. Most people rely on lakes and groundwater for drinking water.
3. Roughly how many people daily depend on groundwater as their main source of drinking water?
a) 1 billion b) 1.5 billion c) 2.5 billion
ANSWERb) Wells and springs are the most common ways people tap into groundwater.
4. In Canada virtually everyone has easy access to clean drinking water. What percentage of people in Africa do not?
5. In developing countries, what percentage of illnesses are caused by using unclean water?
a) 10% b) 50% c) 80%
ANSWERc). Common sources of unclean water supplies include polluted rivers, streams and ponds for drinking and bathing.
6. In developing countries, what is the most common illness caused by using dirty water?
a) Typhoid fever b) Diarrhea c) Malaria
ANSWERb) Infants, children and the elderly in particular can get seriously ill from diarrhea it causes problems of dehydration and malnutrition.
7. Almost all Canadians also have access to sanitation facilities such as toilets or latrines. What percentage of people in Africa do not?
8. In rural Africa, who is primarily responsible for fetching water for the household?
Sources: Environment Canada (2002); WHO/UNICEF (2000)
