On World Toilet Day: New NRDC Report Calls for U.S. Action to Solve the Global Sanitation Crisis

Today on World Toilet Day NRDC, along with CARE and WaterAid released a report calling for the U.S. Government to take the needed steps to solve the global water and sanitation crisis.   The impact of this crisis is far reaching.  Disease caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation kill more children than AIDS, Malaria and TB combined.  But thankfully, we have the tools we need to solve the crisis and if implemented the recommendations in the report released today will go a long way toward bringing clean water and safe sanitation to the people and especially the children who need it the most.

The report, authored by NRDC, CARE and WaterAID  has supprt from Action Against Hunger, AMREF, Catholic Relief Services, Global Water Challenge, H20 for Life, International Housing Coalition, Millennium Water Alliance, PATH, PSI (Population Services International), Water for People and Water.org.  The release of the report was one of many events recognizing World Toilet Day.

There are four key recommendations for the U.S. in our report:

• Develop a water strategy
• Shift to a more comprehensive view of water and sanitation
• Establish senior water leadership
• Direct water and sanitation projects to those most in need

1)       The Administration must deliver a multi-year water, sanitation and hygiene strategy, couched in a broader water strategy – which incorporates indicators of progress, benchmarks for success and a timetable for implementation.  The strategy is a key element of the Water for the Poor Act – and long overdue.  Its vital also that the strategy be developed in meaningful consultation with relevant stakeholders.

2)      The Administration should take a more comprehensive view of water, sanitation and hygiene.  Planning and budgeting for projects to bring clean water and sanitation services to people should be integrated within the wider water strategy and take into account projects for water productivity and water resources management.  Moreover it is critical to raise the profile of water and sanitation from an isolated development or environmental health issue into the bedrock of foreign assistance.   Water and sanitation must be fully integrated into the broader development agenda and high level initiatives on food security, health and climate change.  As I mentioned lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene is a leading cause of malnutrition, and death in children, and it should be treated as such.

3)      State Department and USAID should establish senior water advisors within their highest offices in order to increase coordination across the agencies, and provide critical leadership to advance water and sanitation as a priority within the US and internationally.  Perhaps even more critically USAID must continue to train personnel in water and sanitation.

4)      Finally – as called for by the Water for the Poor Act, the Administration must prioritize funding for water and sanitation based on level of need.  The international community has recommended that 70% of all investment for water and sanitation go to low-income countries.  Right now much of the funding for water and sanitation go to geo-politically strategic regions in the Middle East which have more access to clean water and safe sanitation that people in Sub-Saharan Africa.   Funding for clean water and safe sanitation should be targeted toward the people who need it most.

Fortunately, the importance of water is broadly accepted as fundamental to human well-being by the health and development communities, and is clear priority for Americans with broad bipartisan support – we just need the Administration to capitalize on the wealth of support for this issue and make water a priority for foreign assistance. 

NRDC recognizes that the threats to safe sanitation and water for people around the world are mounting and yet water underpins all health, development and prosperity.  Along with the co-authors and groups supporting the report NRDC stands ready to work with the Administration to take the concrete steps improve global water and sanitation.