Over the last fifty years, the population of the United States has doubled. During this period, total water consumption per person almost tripled. Since the end of the Second World War there has been a steady increase in the movement of people from rural areas to cities. As a result, the self-supplied household population has significantly declined and the need for public water supply systems has intensified. These factors, along with some economic trends, precipitation and global climate change, pose difficult challenges in the years to come. The World Health Organization defines domestic water as “water used for all usual domestic purposes, including drinking, bathing and food preparation”. "(World Health Organization, 2003). Ample supplies of clean domestic water are essential for drinking, cooking, hygiene and various services. More importantly, water is fundamental to human life as it supports the digestion of food, the absorption, transportation and utilization of nutrients, and the elimination of toxins and wastes from the body (Kleiner,1999). In the United States, the average man should consume a minimum of 2.9 liters of water per day, while the average woman should consume 2.2 liters (New York Times, 2009). Inadequate water intake can lead to dehydration and other health problems. Studies have correlated inadequate water intake with disease coronary heart disease and complications associated with pregnancy. Other studies have indicated a decreased risk of colon and breast cancer with increased fluid intake (1999). It is essential that household water is provided for direct consumption and ingestion through the food is hygienic. Scientific research indicates that up to 19 million Americans may become ill each year from parasites, viruses and...... middle of paper ......r.html?_r=1&pagewanted=allKleiner, S. ( 1999 ). Water: An essential but overlooked nutrient. Journal of the AmericanDietetic Association, 99(2); 200-206.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2012). Climate. Retrieved from http://www.noaa.gov/climate.htmlNew Water Supply Coalition. (2012). America's drought. Retrieved from http://www.newwatersupply.org/issue/futurewatershortages.htmU.S. Government Accountability Office. (2003). States' views on how federal agencies could help them address challenges related to anticipated shortages. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-03-514USGS. (2012). Use of domestic water. Retrieved from http: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wudo.htmlWorld Health Organization. (2003). Domestic water quantity, service level and health. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases/en/WSH0302.pdf