World Water Day 2007 passed yesterday, drawing international attention to the over one billion people worldwide who lack access to safe drinking water. The drivers of this crisis are diverse, making the United Nations Millennium Development Goal on water--to halve the number of people without access to clean water or sanitation by 2015--a difficult yet critical target. Whether the challenge is arsenic contamination in Bangladesh, extreme weather in Africa, or lack of infrastructure in urban slums, it is clear that significant political will be an underlying necessity.
Arsenic Poisoning in Bangladesh
Prior to the 1970s, surface water in Bangladesh was often laden with microorganisms, creating a significant burden of disease and mortality, especially among children. A subsequent initiative by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) installed millions of shallow tube wells throughout the country, which played a major role in reducing the under-5 mortality rate from 239 deaths per 1000 live births in 1970 to only 73 in 2005. But UNICEF was not aware that naturally occurring arsenic in soils was contaminating well water, exposing millions of people to arsenic levels far above the government standard of 50 micrograms per liter and the World Health Organization standard of 10 micrograms per liter.
Prevalence of Arsenic Contamination in Bangladesh and India
Source: Bhattacharjee, 2007. "A Sluggish Response to Humanity's Biggest Mass Poisoning." Science 315(5819): 1659-1661.
It is currently estimated that between 35 to 77 million people in Bangladesh (out of a total population of 125 million) are at risk of drinking contaminated water, and many have already succumbed to the health effects of chronic arsenic poisoning, including cancer and painful skin lesions. According to a recent article in Science, the response to this poisoning crisis has been slow, due principally to lack of awareness-raising and insufficient provision of alternative water sources.
Water and Sanitation in Urban Slums
The Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya is home to nearly a million people, though it is only four square kilometers in size. Without proper drains, garbage collection, or bathroom facilities, water-related diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, malaria and typhoid are common. As the world's urban population continues to grow at two percent annually (compared to 0.3 percent for rural populations), it is becoming increasingly vital to address urban water and sanitation issues. It is generally agreed that women must be at the center of such initiatives since they typically play a central role in managing water supplies and promoting hygiene at the household level. See the latest "Ask EarthTrends" post for more information on gender equality and sustainable development.Deaths from Water-Associated Diseases, 2001
Source: United Nations, 2005. "Water for Life Decade"
The above examples demonstrate the great diversity of water-related problems and needs around the world. Learn more about these and other water-related issues at the links below.
RELATED LINKS:
World Health Organization Information on Arsenic in Drinking Water
UNICEF Water, Environment and Sanitation Program
Gender, Water and Sanitation: A UN-Water Policy Brief (pdf)
Global Water Partnership Forum
World Bank Water and Sanitation Program
EarthTrends
Water Resources Searchable Database
Water and sanitation indicators
Annual Renewable Water Supply Per Person by River Basin, 1995
