The Crisis

People in rural areas and in developing countries draw their drinking mainly from surface sources such as ponds, rivers and lakes. These same sources are used by cattle and other livestock and for bathing, washing clothes and other domestic uses.  Even when improved sources are provided (bore holes, rain water harvesting, etc.), the water is usually contaminated during collection, transportation and storage. There is also limited awareness and education of proper sanitation and hygiene techniques which compounds the lack of clean water.

Now the Good News

• 94% of all occurrences of diarrhoea are preventable.
• Improved sanitation reduces diarrhoea morbidity by 32%.
• Hygiene interventions including hygiene education and promotion of hand washing can lead to a reduction of diarrhoeal cases by up to 45%.
• Improvements in drinking-water quality through household water treatment at point of use can lead to a reduction of diarrhoea episodes by between 35% and 39%.