Connecting Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene with Fresh Water Conservation and Climate Resilience: The Need to Facilitate Integration in Development Assistance

In the United States, even the most impoverished people generally have easy access to a toilet and clean, safe water for drinking, cooking, hand washing, and bathing. This is not the case in many developing nations. In many African countries, more than a quarter of the population lacks drinking water coverage, and more than half of the population does not have an adequate place to go to the bathroom. Drinking water and/or sanitation coverage is also lacking in several countries in south and west Asia and South America. Many areas that lack safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) also need to restore or protect fresh water ecosystems and enhance resilience to climate change. Likewise, many communities in the developing world are struggling with major health challenges due to their lack of WASH.