Governments Urged to Invest in Clean Water

Governments need to do more to invest in clean water, the chief executive of a non-profit organization urged, with unsafe drinking water posing a risk to populations.
More investment will also lead to economic advantages, pointed out Scott Harrison, chief executive officer and founder at charity: Water, CNBC reported.
“We’re arguing for higher government spending on water because it provides health, better education, more income,” he said Tuesday.
“You talk about bang for buck, water is a great way to get that,” Harrison added. Improved access to clean water means people are less likely to fall ill from water-transmitted diseases, like diarrhea.
In 2019, the World Health Organization estimated that unsafe drinking water contributes to 485,000 deaths from diarrhea each year. Diarrhea is the most common disease associated with contaminated food and water.
These health benefits extend to personal livelihoods and children’s education as well. With access to safe and clean water, people spend less on medical bills and can stay in employment for longer periods, said the WHO.
Nearly 570 million children worldwide have limited or no access to drinking water in their schools, according to a 2018 report by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the WHO. That translates to 19% of schools worldwide.
Children may not perform “at their very best” if they are not properly hydrated in school, Rick Johnston, the World Health Organization’s technical officer, told Global Citizen in 2018.