Clean Water According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people lack access to clean water.  Those without clean water often suffer from water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid. The objective of the Church’s clean water initiative is to improve the health of communities by providing access to sustainable clean water sources.  Depending on local needs and circumstances, these water sources include wells (or boreholes), water storage and delivery systems, and water purification systems. Since 2002, the Church has helped 3.5 million people in over 2,500 communities obtain access to clean water sources at an average cost of $3.40 (USD) per beneficiary.  Clean water projects have enjoyed long-term sustainability because: Communities are involved in the planning and implementation of each project.  Most labor is provided by community members and other volunteers. Community representatives are trained on system maintenance prior to project completion. In 2006, clean water projects were done in 34 countries, including Algeria, Armenia, Cambodia, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Samoa, Serbia, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.