81
3.5.2.3 The Proportion of the Population Using an Improved Drinking
Water Source
Improved drinking water sources are defined by the World Health Organization/
UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) to be “those which, by nature of their
design and construction, have the potential to deliver safe water.” However, the JMP
provides a more sophisticated metric in the form of a “drinking water ladder,” which
allows deeper insight:
• Surface Water/No Service: Drinking water directly from a river, dam, lake, pond,
stream, canal, or irrigation canal. This has a high risk of contamination.
• Unimproved: Drinking water from an unprotected dug well or unprotected
spring. This risks contamination.
• Limited: Drinking water from an improved source for which collection time
exceeds 30 min for a round trip, including queuing. This is safe but laborious and
interferes with other living activities and productivity.
• Basic: Drinking water from an improved source, provided collection time is not
more than 30 min for a round trip, including queuing. This satisfies the basic
human need.
• Safely Managed: Drinking water from an improved water source, which is located
on-premises, available when needed, and free from fecal and priority chemical
contamination. This maximizes a person’s chances of being healthy and productive
and is the typical practice in the wealthiest countries. Considering the costs of a
person being sick and spending their valuable time gathering water, and the economic value of productive activities requiring access to water, this is usually the
most affordable type of water source—but it requires financial capital, professional
expertise, and political stability to provide this type of water access.
Additional JPM metrics for improved water sources include the following:
• Accessible on-premises
• Available when needed
• Free from contamination
• Piped
• Non-piped
Figure 3.7 shows the percentage of the world’s population without access to at
least basic improved sources of drinking water. The percentage of the world’s
population without access to at least basic improved sources of drinking water
dropped from 20.0% (1224 million) in 2000 to 11.5% (848 million) in 2015, a 42%
improvement. Note the significant difference between rural and urban populations.
3.5.2.4 The Proportion of the Population Using an Improved Sanitation
Facility
The Joint Monitoring Programme defines sanitation services as “the management of
excreta from the facilities used by individuals, through emptying and transport of
excreta for treatment and eventual discharge or reuse.” Improved sanitation facilities
3 Development
3.5.2.3 The Proportion of the Population Using an Improved Drinking
Water Source
Improved drinking water sources are defined by the World Health Organization/
UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) to be “those which, by nature of their
design and construction, have the potential to deliver safe water.” However, the JMP
provides a more sophisticated metric in the form of a “drinking water ladder,” which
allows deeper insight:
• Surface Water/No Service: Drinking water directly from a river, dam, lake, pond,
stream, canal, or irrigation canal. This has a high risk of contamination.
• Unimproved: Drinking water from an unprotected dug well or unprotected
spring. This risks contamination.
• Limited: Drinking water from an improved source for which collection time
exceeds 30 min for a round trip, including queuing. This is safe but laborious and
interferes with other living activities and productivity.
• Basic: Drinking water from an improved source, provided collection time is not
more than 30 min for a round trip, including queuing. This satisfies the basic
human need.
• Safely Managed: Drinking water from an improved water source, which is located
on-premises, available when needed, and free from fecal and priority chemical
contamination. This maximizes a person’s chances of being healthy and productive
and is the typical practice in the wealthiest countries. Considering the costs of a
person being sick and spending their valuable time gathering water, and the economic value of productive activities requiring access to water, this is usually the
most affordable type of water source—but it requires financial capital, professional
expertise, and political stability to provide this type of water access.
Additional JPM metrics for improved water sources include the following:
• Accessible on-premises
• Available when needed
• Free from contamination
• Piped
• Non-piped
Figure 3.7 shows the percentage of the world’s population without access to at
least basic improved sources of drinking water. The percentage of the world’s
population without access to at least basic improved sources of drinking water
dropped from 20.0% (1224 million) in 2000 to 11.5% (848 million) in 2015, a 42%
improvement. Note the significant difference between rural and urban populations.
3.5.2.4 The Proportion of the Population Using an Improved Sanitation
Facility
The Joint Monitoring Programme defines sanitation services as “the management of
excreta from the facilities used by individuals, through emptying and transport of
excreta for treatment and eventual discharge or reuse.” Improved sanitation facilities
3 Development