Everyone has the right to sufficient, continuous, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use. In 2010, the UN General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation. Improved water supply and sanitation, and better management of water resources, can boost countries’ economic growth and can contribute greatly to poverty reduction. Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes. In 2020, 74% of the global population (5.8 billion people) used a safely managed drinking-water service – that is, one located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination.Microbiologically contaminated drinking water can transmit diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio and is estimated to cause 485 000 diarrhoeal deaths each year. Safe and sufficient water facilitates the practice of hygiene, which is a key measure to prevent not only diarrhoeal diseases, but acute respiratory infections and numerous neglected tropical diseases.While the most important chemical risks in drinking water arise from arsenic, fluoride or nitrate, emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and microplastics generate public concern.Microbial contamination of drinking-water as a result of contamination with faeces poses the greatest risk to drinking-water safety. Globally, at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faeces.Over 2 billion people live in water-stressed countries, which is expected to be exacerbated in some regions as result of climate change and population growth.
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