Members of Auckland's water industry are descending on Devonport's Narrow Neck Beach on March 20 to take on the Oxfam Corporate Water Challenge and raise money for water and sanitation work in some of the world's poorest regions.

Teams of four will be racing off the beach into the sea to complete a relay involving swimming and carrying buckets of water to help build awareness of the millions of women and children who spend hours a day carrying 20kg water containers to and from their homes - precious hours they would rather spend at work or school.

This year, one hundred people from the Auckland region water and wastewater industry are taking part.

"Oxfam has been delighted to have the support of Beca, Bilfinger Berger Services and North Shore City Council on this initiative," says Katherine Mason, Oxfam New Zealand Water Partnerships Manager. "Like many businesses in the water sector, these organisations recognise how precious access to safe water is to a community and are acting on these values through their partnership with Oxfam Water for Survival."

Ill-health from drinking dirty water is one of the most serious threats to human life. It's an issue New Zealanders rarely have to think about, but for a billion people around the world it's a daily fear.

In the next 24 hours, diarrhoea caused by unclean water and poor sanitation will claim the lives of 4000 children. The solution to providing safe drinking water is to put in place long-term water systems, which requires community education, engineering know-how, materials, dedication and a considerable amount of hard work.

"Water and sanitation are basic services essential for human health, poverty reduction and economic growth. They are central to life and livelihood," says Andy Thomson, Oxfam Water Programme Manager.

"By improving access to safe water and sanitation this will have flow on effects for improved health, education and wellbeing."

Oxfam New Zealand is working in Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, Vanuatu, Samoa, East Timor and Tanzania to help some of the world's poorest people to access safe water and sanitation.

To find out more about Oxfam's water and sanitation work, or to make a donation to a water project, please visit www.oxfam.org.nz/water Event details: Saturday, March 20, 2010 Olympic triple gold medallist Paul MacDonald will start the race at 2pm

Narrow Neck Beach, Devonport, Auckland

Beca Infrastructure, Bilfinger Berger Services and the North Shore City Council are co-hosting this event in support of Oxfam's Water for Survival programme.