More than one billion people are estimated to lack access to improved water supplies and an astonishing two billion people lack access to improved sanitation facilities. Those who lack these essential services live almost exclusively in low- and middle-income countries. This talk will discuss the tremendous global need of access to improved water supplies and sanitation facilities and the resultant impact on human health, women's empowerment, and girls' education. The speaker will address challenges facing governments and civil society working in earnest to reduce these fundamental barriers to health and livelihood. Audience members will be encouraged to consider their own access to these and other municipal services and to consider potential solutions for these problems of staggering proportions.