Supporters of Drink More Water

Alan Hinkes OBE, mountaineer.  The first Briton to climb all of the world’s highest mountains:

Alan Hinkes OBE, mountaineer.

"As a mountaineer I am always conscious of the need for good hydration to maintain peak physical and mental performance.  At extremes good hydration can be the difference between life and death.

At high altitudes drinking water is scarce because it is frozen in snow and ice - actual water is a very precious resource indeed.  It helps me appreciate how difficult life must be for the billion people in the world who live without safe water to drink.  For them, collecting water is a daily grind.  For me, back home in Yorkshire, it is as simple as turning on a tap.

When you visit countries like Nepal, you often see people, mostly women and children, walking for hours over arduous ground to collect water. They don't have the luxury of taps with clean water in their homes, which we take for granted. Yet it costs less than £15 to bring someone a lasting supply of clean water and sanitation.

I urge you to support WaterAid’s Drink More Water campaign by taking up the challenge to drink your 2 litres of water a day – and, as you do so, spare a thought for those for whom this task just is not possible without your help.

“In recent years, we in the UK have become more concerned about the effects of food and drink choices on our nutritional health."

Pamela Taylor OBE, Chief Executive – Water UK

Pamela Taylor OBE, Water UK's Chief Executive.

"Good hydration plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy diet, and water is now widely recognised as a basic nutrient, literally the only one you can’t do without. Drinking enough fresh water is essential to our long term health and well-being.

Yet there is evidence to show that many people simply do not drink enough, that they suffer many mild conditions as a result of dehydration, and that they may not be aware of the important health benefits that good hydration can bring to their lives.

In the UK we are fortunate in having the precious yet inexpensive resource on tap, 24 hours a day, at extremely high quality.

WaterAid’s Drink More Water web pages will help to raise awareness, give practical advice and encourage everyone to see that water is a drink of real health power.

I am delighted to support the work WaterAid is doing to help individuals and communities have a better future."

Add your own comments, email drinkmorewater@wateraid.org.