Access to clean, safe and affordable drinking water is the foundation of health, development and economic prosperity. Despite those big strides in nearly every part of the world, over two billion people still don’t have access to safely managed drinking water and other problems related to access and affordability persist.
The term ‘Universal access’ means no person, be they in rural Africa or an American high-rise, should be required to spend a significant percentage of their income for clean water. In addition to heath, water is the very foundation of agriculture, industry, sanitation and education.
Universal Access to Safe & Affordable Drinking Water
Safe drinking water is one of the most powerful drivers for disease prevention and improved quality of life as well as a critical component in economic development and social stability. The contaminated water is responsible for diarrhoea, cholera and other waterborne diseases, which affect mostly children.
Affordable access to water also lowers the amount of time needed to procure it and something that is frequently the task of women and children. This in turn can give them more time for education or employment, personal life, etc. For that reason, clean water is a basic necessity of life but it is also necessary for dignity, equality and sustainable development.
Challenges in Ensuring Universal Water Access
Safety is a basic need, access to safe drinking water is not universal and relies on physical, economic, and social factors:
- The Infrastructure Deficit: There are many rural and isolated communities without a pipeline, a treatment plant or even a well.
- Issues on Quality of Water: Industrial effluents pollute water, so do the agrichemicals and lack-of-sewage-disposal cause health hazard.
- Economic: Poor families cannot pay for water, it is available.
- Calamities: Droughts, floods and modified patterns of rainfall all diminish some countries’ access to water.
The UK’s Clean Energy Platform comprises one part of CSR, and developing countries need a more comprehensive approach that encompasses infrastructure AND institutions, local engagement and environmental sustainability.
Strategies to Achieve Universal Access
- Policy and Governance
Very strong legislation which agrees that water is a human right provides the equitable distribution. Policies should aim to prioritize those that are marginalized and maintain quality standards.
- Affordability Measures
Water pricing has to be sensitive. Government support or progressive pricing systems that enable poor households to have enough water without facing excessive spends are prevalent. Infrastructure can be financed largely through public-private partnerships, which should be able to render costs manageable.
- Water Conservation and Management
Good water governance is also key, and sustainable water management including rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and demand reduction are important as well. These installations also have very long-term availability.
Key Indicators for Drinking Water Access
| Indicator | Target | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion of population with safely managed water | 100% | Measures universal access |
| Water affordability | <3% of household income | Ensures equitable access |
| Incidence of waterborne diseases | Reduce to minimal levels | Reflects quality and safety |
| Infrastructure coverage | Universal access | Tracks system reaches and reliability |
| Community participation | High | Enhances sustainability |
Health and Social Impacts
Fatal waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea are prevented by clean drinking water. The majority of cases of diarrhoea, malnutrition and child mortality can be attributed to unsafe water. Clean water also benefits maternal health because women no longer have to gather unsafe drinking water over hours or days. Across the globe, schools that have access to safe drinking water have higher attendance and more learning and especially for girls who are typically responsible for fetching water.
Water also enables social justice. In any society where there are affordable and reliable sources of water for the population, economic productivity will rise, families will save money which now goes on home management), time spent in conflict with others over access to scarce water resources decreases.
Moving Forward
It is only through a multi-pronged strategy (infrastructure investment, legal systems and norms, community service provision, levels of education, affordability mechanisms, and climate-resilient practices. This will require a combination of government, NGO and private sector actors partnering with the local population.
Water is not simply a good, but rather a right, the very basis of life and hope for equality and development. Making access a priority is a path to disease prevention, quality of life improvement, women and children empowerment and resilient communities. When people do not have clean water to drink, it’s difficult to tell whether sustainable development progress is being made in many other areas.
FAQs
Why do you want access to clean water?
It helps to stop waterborne diseases, enhances health and enables education and the economy.
How many people do not have access to safely managed drinking water?
Only half have the access to sustainable and safe sources of water.
What does it take to make water more affordable?
Subsidies, tiered pricing and public financing contribute to ensure that low-income residents have access to water.
What does it mean for education if there’s no access to water?
Schools that have access to safe water also post higher attendance rates, particularly for girls who would otherwise be fetching water.
How does climate change factor into access to water?
Droughts, floods and erratic weather throw supply into chaos while declining quality takes a hit and they need adaptable systems.
