Water Scarcity and Sanitation Challenges in the Commonwealth Region

Strategic Insights -

The Commonwealth Secretariat has emphasized the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. A United Nations report highlights adequate progress in SDG 6 but notes that acceleration is required, as billions of people lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Water scarcity is becoming a growing concern due to climate change and conflict, with contamination impacting water quality in various regions.

Key Takeaways:

  • In Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of people without safely managed drinking water has increased from 703 to 766 million since 2015.
  • One in three people in Sub-Saharan Africa lacks access to hand-washing facilities.
  • Over 494 million individuals worldwide practice open defecation, with 91 million in India lacking access to safe water and 746 million lacking access to safely managed household sanitation facilities.
  • Diarrheal diseases, caused by open defecation, are the leading cause of infant mortality in Africa.
  • Water stress affects countries in Africa and Asia, with India, Pakistan, and Singapore experiencing severe water stress.
  • Water management is not only an issue of physical scarcity but also of water governance challenges.
  • Singapore demonstrates best practices in water stress management and governance, with a diversified resource base and substantial investments in underground drainage systems, research, and development, and water conservation awareness campaigns.
  • Some low-income countries, such as Uganda, have extremely low water stress levels but limited access to safe water, highlighting the need for more effective management of water resources.

Statistics:

  • 766 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to safely managed drinking water.
  • 494 million individuals worldwide practice open defecation.
  • 91 million people in India lack access to safe water.
  • 746 million people in India lack access to safely managed household sanitation facilities.
  • 1 in 3 people in Sub-Saharan Africa lacks access to hand-washing facilities.
  • Water stress affects countries in Africa and Asia, with India, Pakistan, and Singapore experiencing severe water stress.
  • Uganda has a water stress level of 5.8%, but only 17% of the population has access to safely managed potable water.

Sources:

  • United Nations (2023)
  • United Nations (2021)
  • World Bank (2023)
  • NITI Aayog (2018)
  • Rout & Kattumuri (2022)
  • Sulabh International (2022)
  • Tearfund (2022)
  • Water.org (2023)
  • World Bank (2019)