Hi Deirdre,
Teresa, a previous contributor on the forum outlined a number of facts relating to access to clean water and sanitation which are truly sobering when you see them in black and white. Probably most shocking is that around 3.6 billion people live without adequate sanitation. However, getting our students t0 fully appreciate and understand the reality if this is difficult as their own life experiences are so far removed. Your suggestions of getting students to link in with local initiatives around improving water quality and sanitation should improve understanding as looking at the topic through the lens of their locality makes it more relatable and real.