Learning Objectives
- Develop an understanding of water sanitation, bacterial contamination, UN classifications of water provision, the global extent of mortality from diarrheal disease, and terminology used in water sanitation.
Key Concepts
Improved and unimproved water supply, water sanitation, global situation for water and sanitation.
1. Differences between the Global North and South
In the industrialized west, we generally take clean water and sanitation (in this context, sewage disposal) for granted. This certainly isn’t true for much of the Global South, where substantial parts of the population lack access to clean water, and very large fractions of populations lack even basic sanitation. This submodule quickly reviews the global situation for water and sanitation. For context, the previous submodule (2) reviews waterborne diseases and the next submodule (4) presents an overview of water treatment and sewage disposal.
2. The Global Situation For Water And Sanitation
Key Readings
Key Readings
- WHO. 2014. Progress on sanitation and drinking-water - 2014 update. World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
- What is the difference between "improved" water supply and "safe" water supply?
- During drought conditions, how does the situation for water supply and sanitation affect resilience?
Further Readings
Further Readings
Other related International Waters Lessons and Submodules
- Conflicts and Struggles over Water Territories Submodule 3: Contested Water Territories: Water Grabbing
- Rural – Urban Connections and the Peri-Urban Submodule 6: Equity and justice dimensions in rural-urban water flows
- Water Access and Equity Submodule 2: The Human Right to Water and Sanitation
Next submodule: Approaches for Treating Water and Sewage