Water – the crucible of life. How lucky we are to have instantaneous access to all the water we need. We require only the simple task of reaching to turn on the faucet to make a seemingly infinite supply of water spring forth.

There are parts of the world however, where people are not so fortunate and have to walk miles each day to gather drinking water often in intense heat.

If people in third-world countries are fortunate enough they may have a faucet that provides fresh water from a well below, built by various charities that help causes such as this to provide more sanitised conditions as to avoid disease. In most circumstances however, a hole has been dug where water was found to be and is drank as it is found.

The problem with drinking untreated water is not only the diseases it can cause but also the parasites people risk ingesting also.

Possibly one of the worst parasites is schistosomiasis which is when people come into contact with the fresh water that snails that carry this disease are living in.

It has been known that in some exceptionally poor countries using the water to bathe in as well as gather drinking water from is not uncommon. The major problem with this however, is that the worms are able to burrow into the skin so anyone bathing in the water would be vulnerable.

The parasites start off as eggs and then when hatched they infiltrate the breeds of snail that can sustain them until they are big enough to survive in the open water for around 48 hours during which time they look for a more suitable host.

Unpleasantly some eggs stay in the body where there is a possibility that they can damage vital organs.

This condition is treatable but in very poor countries the problem transpires from not having access to medication. Charities do their part to help in matters such as this as well as providing education and fresh water they can also provide medical treatment as having these parasites burrow into the skin is very violating and can cause major problems if not treated. There is also the fact that the next time the person bathed they would be taking the parasites eggs into the water with them ready for the next unfortunate person.

Even though turning on the tap and having fresh, treated water pour out is the norm for us we have to remember just how lucky we are to live how we do and how we do not have to put up with the violation that comes from having your body infested by parasitic organisms that can cause not only discomfort but even death. For some struggling to survive every day is a feat in itself so I ask of you – the next time you get a drink of water and turn on the tap just remember the people who have to walk miles to get a drink or risk disease every time water touches their lips.