November 27 - Inadequate drinking water is the second-leading cause of death among children worldwide, according to a new report from the United Nations Development Program. Almost 2 million children die from unsanitary water every year.

Globally, about 1.1 billion people don’t have access to clean water and 2.6 billion lack adequate sanitation, according to the report. Although many countries are improving access to water, drainage systems and the number of households with toilets are not keeping pace, leading to the spread of disease. In Peru, children in homes with toilets and clean water are 59 percent more likely to survive childhood than those without, and in Egypt, the number is 57 percent.

The Water Information Center, a Web site created by the National Academies, provides free access to more than 100 peer-reviewed reports on water-related issues and support to all who are working to create a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable world.

• The Water Information Center

• Human Development Report 2006 "Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis"