According to reports filed by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2012, the world has met the UN Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for drinking water, but has it? The reports stated that in excess of two billion individuals gained access to improved drinking water sources between 1990 and 2010, well in advance of the MDG 2015 deadline.
The UN Millennium Development Goal for Drinking Water
This report was good news, but what was not that good is the fact that there are still millions of individuals that still do not have access to safe drinking water.
According to the 2014 update, Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation, “Even though progress towards the MDG target represents important gains in access for billions of people around the world, it has been uneven. Sharp geographic, sociocultural and economic inequalities in access persist and sometimes have increased. This report presents examples of unequal progress among marginalized and vulnerable groups.â€
Since 1990, in excess of 2 billion individuals have gained access to improved drinking water sources and one hundred and sixteen countries have met the MDG target for water. This means that around 4 billion individuals now have water piped into their homes, enjoying the highest level of water access.
Unfortunately, around a third of the global population still does not have access to improved sources of drinking water. This is in excess of 700 million people, approximately 50% of which live in sub-Saharan Africa.
The MDG 2015 is not only about drinking water though, but includes access to improved sanitation facilities, which go hand in hand with good health. Currently still more than one third of the global population, around 2.5 billion people, do not use an improved sanitation facility.
The biggest problem in achieving the MDG target is the disparities across regions, between urban and rural areas, and between the rich and the poor and marginalised. The vast majority of those without sanitation are poorer people living in rural areas.
Although the MDG drinking water target, to halve the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water was met in 2010, around 748 million people, mostly the poor and marginalised, still do not have access to an improved drinking water source. Almost a quarter, or around 173 million, relies on untreated surface water; over 90% live in rural areas.
If current trends continue, there will still be 547 million individuals without access to improved drinking water supply in 2015.
Source:
Living-Water sells water dispensers London and water cooler accessories. Read our water cooler blog for latest industry news and articles. Get a free water cooler trial and free water site assessment from Living-Water.
