What is an Access to Drinking Water Indicator?

What is Access to Drinking Water? The Access to Drinking Water indicator measures the percentage of the population with access to improved drinking water sources. 90% People without Access to Improved Drinking Water Sources 60% People with Access to Improved Drinking Water Sources 30% --> Country A Country B Country C Improved vs Unimproved Sources of Drinking Water IMPROVED 100 Public tap Tubewell or borehole Protected spring Piped water Protected Rainwater dug well UNIMPROVED Cart with small tank Unprotected dug well Tanker-truck Bottled Surface water Unprotected spring water The Dangers of Unimproved Drinking Water 88% 0-5 Years Old Diarrheal Causes Leading Cause of Death Unsafe drinking water, inadequate availability of water for hygiene, and lack of access to sanitation Diarrheal disease is a leading cause of deaths among children and is frequently contracted through together contribute to about 88% of deaths from diarrheal diseases. contaminated water sources. It is also a leading cause of malnutrition in children under five years old. How is the world doing? Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) for Access to Drinking Water In Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability, Target 10: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. ↑ 13% ↑ 2.1 billion 88% 89% 76% - 21 years Since 1990, 2.1 billion people have gained access to improved drinking water sources. In 2010, 89% of people had access to drinking water, which meant that MDG Drinking Water Target was met five years ahead of the target date. Set the Goal The MDG Goal Achieved Early by 2015 in 1990 in 2010 The Remaining 11% Although we have reached the MDG goal for access to drinking water, we still have a long way to go. There is still 11% of the world's population, about 783 million people, who do not have access to improved drinking water. Also, water safety and quality in rural areas still remain problems. A 1% Environmental Performance References • WHO / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation. http://www.wssinfo.org/ • Prüss-Üstün A., Bos, R., Gore, F. & Bartram, J. 2008. Safer water, better health: costs, benefits and sustainability of interventions to protect and promote health. World Health Organization, Geneva. Available: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241596435_eng.pdf Index