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The Need for Safe Sanitation

YOU PROBABLY DON’T THINK MUCH ABOUT YOUR TOILET – BUT IMAGINE IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE ONE.  THAT’S THE REALITY FOR MANY PEOPLE, AS YOU’LL HEAR ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

MORE THAN TWO-BILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD LACK ACCESS TO THE SAFE SANITATION THAT MOST AMERICANS TAKE FOR GRANTED.  IT’S A TABOO TOPIC, BUT ONE WITH HUGE SOCIAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS.  WHEN EXCREMENT IS NOT COLLECTED AND TREATED, IT CAN POLLUTE DRINKING WATER AND CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESS.

UNFORTUNATELY, TRADITIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT CAN BE COSTLY, BUT DAVID TROUBA OF THE STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL WATER INSTITUTE SAYS ALTERNATIVES DO EXIST.

TROUBA: THERE ARE NOW APPROACHES, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH THEY CALL ECOLOGICAL SANITATION OR DRY SANITAION WHICH USE A LOT LESS WATER AND HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE.

THIS MAY PROVIDE HOPE – BUT TECHNOLOGY ALONE WON’T HELP: PUBLIC ATTENTION AND POLITICAL WILL ALSO ARE NEEDED.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

To learn more about this issue, visit the World Health Organization.