A decade after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), access to safe drinking water on a universal level continues to be a global challenge.
According to a new report by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), published during World Water Week, more than 2 billion people on the planet, that is, one in four people, lack this right.
Out of the total, 106 million people depend directly on rivers, lakes, or other untreated surface water sources. This highlights deep inequalities in access to water and basic sanitation.
Inequality in Access to Water and Sanitation
What happens with access to water.
“At the current rate, the promise of safe drinking water and sanitation for all children is increasingly distant,” warned Cecilia Scharp, a UNICEF specialist. She emphasized the need to act more quickly and decisively to reach the most vulnerable communities.
The report underscores that populations in less developed countries are twice as likely to lack access to safe water and sanitation services. Rural communities, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, children, and especially women and girls are the ones facing the greatest barriers.
In regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and South Asia, millions of women and girls spend more than half an hour daily walking long distances to collect water. This burden not only limits their development but also reinforces gender inequalities.
The report highlights that the gaps critically affect adolescent girls. In their case, they face greater challenges during menstruation due to the lack of adequate infrastructure.
Lack of Sanitation and Hygiene, a Persistent Problem
Difficulties in obtaining potable water.
The problem is not limited to water. According to the study, 3.4 billion people still lack safely managed sanitation facilities. Among them, 354 million practice open defecation. Additionally, 1.7 billion people lack basic hygiene services in their homes.
These deficiencies have direct consequences on public health, such as the spread of diseases, preventable deaths, and higher levels of social exclusion.
The organizations also warn that, for many adolescents aged 15 to 19, the lack of safe bathrooms implies dropping out of school, work, or social activities during their menstrual periods.
A Commitment at Risk
With only five years left to achieve the 2030 SDGs, the UN warns that the promise of ensuring safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for all is in jeopardy.
“We have to accelerate our actions, especially for the most marginalized communities, if we want to fulfill our promise of achieving the SDGs,” said Rüdiger Krech, from the WHO Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Health.
