Health

Health

1.5% of the global disease burden is attributed to inadequate water, sanitation and hand hygiene practices.

Water, both quality and quantity, and sanitation are critical for human health and promoting wellbeing. Currently, over 800 million people lack access to safe and reliable water, while over 2.5 billion people lack access to basic sanitation. Every year millions of people die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene. Despite improvements in access over recent decades, universal access to clean water and sanitation remains a huge challenge. Emerging contaminants, from domestic, industrial and agricultural sources require vigilance and appropriate responses.

Projects

See projects in this thematic area

Inclusive Urban Sanitation Champions

The IWA Inclusive Urban Sanitation (IUS) Champions Programme recognises excellence, leadership, and innovation in the sa...

Water-Wise Cities

Humanity cannot thrive and survive without water. Cities cannot function without water. A simple, but powerful reality. ...

Inclusive Sanitation

  Reshaping the global agenda on urban sanitation  ...

Water Safety Planning

Humanity cannot thrive and survive without water. Cities cannot function without water. A simple, but powerful reality. ...

Regulating for Citywide Inclusive Sanitation

Rallying service providers and regulators for joint action...

Blog Posts

Latest opinions and insights relevant to the water sector

November 17, 2023
This World Toilet Day, we’re spotlighting innovative and unconventional solutions to accelerate change and achieve universal access to sustainable sanitation ...
March 4, 2023
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 8 March, highlighting the achievements of women worldwide while also calling for greater gender equality. ...
Women and water and strongly intertwined in rural communities. The empowerment of women, of new and local voices, and of new ideas, has immense potential to imp...
February 24, 2023
Date: Wednesday, 22 March 2023​ Time: 11:00-12:15 EST (Eastern Standard Time)​ Location: UN Headquarters, Side Event Room B​ Registration: Event open only...

News / Events

November 20, 2023
The IWA Health-Related Water Microbiology Specialist Group, the Austrian Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, and the Global Water Pathog...
June 20, 2023
Darwin, Australia The International Water Association (IWA) is delighted to announce the launch of the Wastewater-based Epidemiological (WBE) Surveillance Clust...
May 16, 2023
Call for nominations extended to 22 May! The IWA Specialist Group on Microbial Ecology and Water Engineering (MEWE) is calling for nominations for the Ardern-Lo...
October 12, 2022
Global Handwashing Day is an annual advocacy day on 15 October dedicated to advocating for handwashing as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent dise...