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Global Access to Safe Water: Accounting for Water Quality and the Resulting Impact on MDG Progress

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  • Kyle Onda

    (The Water Institute, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB #7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Joe LoBuglio

    (The Water Institute, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB #7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Jamie Bartram

    (The Water Institute, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB #7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

Abstract

Monitoring of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) drinking water target relies on classification of water sources as “improved” or “unimproved” as an indicator for water safety. We adjust the current Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) estimate by accounting for microbial water quality and sanitary risk using the only-nationally representative water quality data currently available, that from the WHO and UNICEF “Rapid Assessment of Drinking Water Quality”. A principal components analysis (PCA) of national environmental and development indicators was used to create models that predicted, for most countries, the proportions of piped and of other-improved water supplies that are faecally contaminated; and of these sources, the proportions that lack basic sanitary protection against contamination. We estimate that 1.8 billion people (28% of the global population) used unsafe water in 2010. The 2010 JMP estimate is that 783 million people (11%) use unimproved sources. Our estimates revise the 1990 baseline from 23% to 37%, and the target from 12% to 18%, resulting in a shortfall of 10% of the global population towards the MDG target in 2010. In contrast, using the indicator “use of an improved source” suggests that the MDG target for drinking-water has already been achieved. We estimate that an additional 1.2 billion (18%) use water from sources or systems with significant sanitary risks. While our estimate is imprecise, the magnitude of the estimate and the health and development implications suggest that greater attention is needed to better understand and manage drinking water safety.

Suggested Citation

  • Kyle Onda & Joe LoBuglio & Jamie Bartram, 2012. "Global Access to Safe Water: Accounting for Water Quality and the Resulting Impact on MDG Progress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-15, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:3:p:880-894:d:16645
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    1. Papke, Leslie E & Wooldridge, Jeffrey M, 1996. "Econometric Methods for Fractional Response Variables with an Application to 401(K) Plan Participation Rates," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 11(6), pages 619-632, Nov.-Dec..
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    2. Xing-Yun Zou & Xin-Yu Peng & Xin-Xin Zhao & Chun-Ping Chang, 2023. "The impact of extreme weather events on water quality: international evidence," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 115(1), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Jonny Crocker & Jamie Bartram, 2014. "Comparison and Cost Analysis of Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Requirements versus Practice in Seven Developing Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Venkatesh Baskaran & Velkennedy R, 2022. "A systematic review on the role of geographical information systems in monitoring and achieving sustainable development goal 6: Clean water and sanitation," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 1417-1425, October.
    5. Joseph Kangmennaang & Elijah Bisung & Susan J. Elliott, 2020. "‘We Are Drinking Diseases’: Perception of Water Insecurity and Emotional Distress in Urban Slums in Accra, Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-17, January.
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    7. A. G. S. Reddy, 2023. "A review on violation of drinking water specifications in water supply and research publications," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 1084-1100, February.
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    9. Ingrid Papajová & Júlia Šmigová & Gabriela Gregová & Jindřich Šoltys & Ján Venglovský & Ján Papaj & Tatiana Szabóová & Nikola Dančová & Lukáš Ihnacik & Ingrid Schusterová & Jana Sušinková & Jana Rakov, 2022. "Effect of Wastewater Treatment on Bacterial Community, Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Endoparasites," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, February.
    10. Robert Bain & Jamie Bartram & Mark Elliott & Robert Matthews & Lanakila McMahan & Rosalind Tung & Patty Chuang & Stephen Gundry, 2012. "A Summary Catalogue of Microbial Drinking Water Tests for Low and Medium Resource Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-17, May.
    11. Jamie Bartram & Clarissa Brocklehurst & Michael B. Fisher & Rolf Luyendijk & Rifat Hossain & Tessa Wardlaw & Bruce Gordon, 2014. "Global Monitoring of Water Supply and Sanitation: History, Methods and Future Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-29, August.
    12. Dorian Tosi Robinson & Ariane Schertenleib & Bal Mukunda Kunwar & Rubika Shrestha & Madan Bhatta & Sara J. Marks, 2018. "Assessing the Impact of a Risk-Based Intervention on Piped Water Quality in Rural Communities: The Case of Mid-Western Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-23, July.

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