Feces in drinking water deaths a health risk for more and more people in the world

WHO: Two billion people use contaminated drinking water
Clean drinking water is scarce in many regions of the world. Almost two billion people worldwide use drinking water contaminated with fecal matter, according to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report. Hundreds of thousands of deaths are attributable to contaminated drinking water every year, WHO reports. The international community is investing too little in access to safe drinking water supplies, hygiene and sanitation.

By the year 2030, safe drinking water supply in accordance with the goals of the United Nations should be ensured wherever possible in all regions of the world. However, according to the latest WHO report, this goal is hardly achievable. Furthermore, almost two billion people worldwide are endangered by contaminated drinking water. The international community has so far failed to meet global expectations for universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation, according to the WHO communication.

Clean drinking water is natural for us Germans. But two billion people around the world are using contaminated drinking water with feces. (Image: Hyrma / fotolia.com)

500,000 fatal diarrheal diseases per year
"Today, nearly two billion people use a drinking water supply that is contaminated with fecal matter and the danger of spreading cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio," Dr. Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Public Health, WHO's Environmental and Social Determinants of Health. Contaminated drinking water is estimated to cause more than 500,000 fatal diarrheal illnesses per year, Neira continues. In addition, contaminated drinking water is an important risk factor in some tropical diseases including intestinal worms, schistosomiasis (also called schistosomiasis) and trachoma (bacterial ophthalmia).

Previous investments are not enough
According to the WHO, massive investments are needed to reach the sustainability goals for safe drinking water supply and hygiene. The measures implemented so far are not sufficient. Although the federal states have increased their annual budgets for water, sanitation and sanitary facilities by 4.9 percent in the last three years. However, 80 percent of countries report that funding is not yet sufficient to meet nationally defined safe drinking water goals, according to the WHO communication.

Triplication of investment required
In order to meet its global goals, the World Bank estimates that $ 114 billion in infrastructure investment will be required annually, a tripling of investment to date, disregarding operating and maintenance costs. Achieving the objectives will require collective, coordinated and innovative efforts to mobilize even greater funding from all sources, WHO reports. For example, additional taxes, tariffs for the use and the increased acquisition of donations are conceivable.

A solvable challenge
Already with the Millennium Development Goal, many countries have shown that they have been able to overcome the funding shortfalls by mobilizing additional resources, WHO reports. The experts are now hoping for a similar effect in the goal of safe drinking water supply. "This is a challenge we can solve," says Guy Ryder, chairman of UN-Water and general director of the International Labor Organization (ILO). "Increased investment in water and sanitation can bring significant benefits to human health and development, create jobs and ensure that nobody is left behind," Ryder said. (Fp)