2.2 Billion People Lack Access to Clean Water
4.2 Billion People Don’t Have a Decent Toilet
Whether it’s a drink of water or a working toilet, water and sanitation are basic needs we often take for granted. But globally, 1 in 3 people doesn’t have access to safe drinking water, and 1 in 2 people doesn’t have a decent toilet. This is the problem we’re facing head-on.
Impact on Women and Girls
Lack of water and sanitation services is especially hard on women and girls. They are often the ones responsible for collecting water, which takes them away from work and school. When they have water, though, all that changes. They have time to work, study, and spend time with their families.
$0
billion in estimated economic losses due to poor water⁸Impact on Economic Prosperity
Spending hours each day fetching water or battling waterborne diseases causes people to lose money on medical costs and lose time they could spend on income-generating activities. When families regain their time and health, they can turn it into education and job opportunities that lead to a better future.
Impact on Health
Without access to clean water, people resort to using and drinking water from contaminated sources, leading to preventable diseases like diarrhea and cholera. These illnesses cause families to lose time and money, and can even lead to death. When communities have a safe water source, they’re instead able to thrive.
¹ WaterAid, with original calculations from WHO/UNICEF, Hutton & European Union Labour Force Survey.
² United Nations
³ World Health Organization (WHO)
⁴ UNICEF
⁵ WHO/UNICEF 2019
⁶ United Nations Water
⁷ Hutton et al. 2015
⁸ World Health Organization