Abstract
Safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are fundamental to an improved standard of living. Globally, 91% of households used improved drinking water sources in 2015, while for improved sanitation it is 68%. Wealth disparities are stark, with rural populations, slum dwellers and marginalized groups lagging significantly behind. Service coverage is significantly lower when considering the new water and sanitation targets under the sustainable development goals (SDGs) which aspire to a higher standard of ‘safely managed’ water and sanitation. Lack of access to WASH can have an economic impact as much as 7% of Gross Domestic Product, not including the social and environmental consequences. Research points to significant health and socio-economic consequences of poor nutritional status, child growth and school performance caused by inadequate WASH. Groundwater over-extraction and pollution of surface water bodies have serious impacts on water resource availability and biodiversity, while climate change exacerbates the health risks of water insecurity. A significant literature documents the beneficial impacts of WASH interventions, and a growing number of impact evaluation studies assess how interventions are optimally financed, implemented and sustained. Many innovations in behavior change and service delivery offer potential for scaling up services to meet the SDGs.
Highlights
Safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are fundamental to an improved standard of living, including the protection of health and the environment, improved educational outcomes, greater convenience, dignity and gender equality
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 7c targets called for halving the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation between 1990 and 2015
The targets were ambitious at the outset, with 76% of the population globally using an improved drinking water source and 54% with access to safe sanitation in 1990
Summary
Sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are fundamental to an improved standard of living, including the protection of health and the environment, improved educational outcomes, greater convenience, dignity and gender equality. Poor and vulnerable populations have lower access to improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and poorer associated behaviors. Improved WASH is central to reducing poverty, promoting equality, and supporting socioeconomic development. For these reasons, drinking water and sanitation were included as targets in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and aspirations for the post-2015 period under the Sustainable. Development Goals (SDGs) are to achieve universal access to WASH by 2030.
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