The crisis
Globally 3.5 billion people do not have a decent toilet of their own. Access to reliable sanitation is a basic human right that protects people from dangerous diseases and provides dignity.
For girls and women, the lack of toilets also affects their privacy and safety – they often wait until dark to find a quiet place to defecate, which increases the risk of being harassed or even sexually attacked.
Without toilets in schools, children are left to do their necessities out in the open. This makes them vulnerable to diarrheal illnesses and causes them to miss class, holding them back from realizing their full potential.
WaterAid 101
From advocacy to engineering, we cover a lot of ground, but the fundamentals of our work are simple:
Taps
Clean water infrastructure means people can access clean, running water 365 days a year.
Toilets
Toilets matter more than you might think. Sanitation is fundamental for the dignity and health of a community.
Hygiene
Hygiene is the final piece of the puzzle. Good hygiene helps people stay healthier, it prevents the spread of diseases and allows people to flourish.
What we've done together
Our approach
Together, we can make a bigger difference. With governments, development partners, utility companies, community-based organizations, businesses and entrepreneurs, and local people, we work every day to improve people’s access to sanitation.
To ensure improvements are built-to-last, we promote behavior change and work with communities to review various sanitation options so they can make informed decisions about which best meets their needs.
We address the entire sanitation chain to make sure human waste is safely managed, including transportation or storage, treatment, and disposal or reuse.
We prioritize the poorest and most marginalized people. Toilets are critical for the well-being and health of a community.