25 Countries with the Least Access to Safe Drinking Water

The Global Water Crisis

According to UNESCO, 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, which accounts for 26% of the global population. Additionally, nearly 10% of the world’s population lives in countries facing high or critical water stress. The global water crisis is exacerbated by the increasing allocation of water resources to agriculture and industrial growth. It is projected that the urban population experiencing water scarcity will double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7-2.4 billion people in 2050. Regions such as Central Africa, East Asia, and parts of South America, which currently have abundant water resources, are expected to face seasonal water scarcity in the future. Conversely, water-scarce regions like the Middle East and the Sahel region in Africa will experience even more severe water shortages.

The Victims of Unsafe Drinking Water

UNICEF reports that several countries have less than half of their populations accessing improved water sources on their premises. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly affected, with countries like the Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, and South Sudan having nine out of ten people lacking access to improved water sources. More than half of the 703 million people without basic drinking water live in sub-Saharan Africa, while a fifth reside in Central and Southern Asia. Furthermore, 115 million people worldwide still rely on surface water, with two-thirds of them living in sub-Saharan Africa. Income status plays a significant role in water access, as only two-thirds of improved water sources are accessible in lower-middle-income countries. The situation is even worse in low-income nations, where less than a third of improved sources can be accessed on premises. Countries like Burundi, Liberia, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda have a significant gap between the coverage of improved water sources and those that can be accessed on premises.

Bottled Water as a Safe Drinking Option

Bottled water is considered a safe and pure source of drinking water. Companies like Nestlé S.A., PepsiCo, Inc., and The Coca-Cola Company dominate the global bottled water market. Nestlé S.A. offers premium natural mineral waters and high-quality purified water through brands like Perrier, S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, and Nestlé Pure Life. Nestlé Pure Life is especially popular and provides pure and safe water in over 40 countries. Nestlé S.A. also focuses on regenerating water cycles in its operational areas to ensure water sustainability.

PepsiCo, Inc. produces Aquafina, which undergoes extensive purification processes such as reverse osmosis. The company operates more than 40 Aquafina purification sites in the US and Canada. The Coca-Cola Company owns the brand Dasani, as well as Topo Chico, a mineral water brand. Topo Chico recently launched a line of premium mixers made with filtered sparkling water and premium ingredients. The brand also expanded its offerings with Topo Chico Sabores, a line of premium sparkling waters made with real fruit juice and herbal extracts.

25 Countries with the Least Access to Safe Drinking Water

1. Mongolia – 39.3% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
2. Sao Tome and Principe – 36.3% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
3. Indonesia – 30.3% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
4. Afghanistan – 30.0% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
5. Tonga – 29.5% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
6. Cambodia – 29.1% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
7. Nigeria – 29% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
8. Lesotho – 28.2% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
9. Senegal – 26.7% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
10. Zimbabwe – 26.5% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
11. Guinea-Bissau – 23.9% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
12. Madagascar – 22.2% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
13. Togo – 19.4% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
14. Uganda – 18.7% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
15. Lao People’s Democratic Republic – 17.9% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
16. Malawi – 17.8% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
17. Nepal – 16.1% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
18. Kiribati – 14.4% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
19. Ethiopia – 13.2% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
20. Democratic Republic of the Congo – 11.6% of the population has access to safe drinking water.

Conclusion

The lack of access to safe drinking water is a pressing issue affecting numerous countries around the world. It is crucial to address this issue and work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, particularly Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. By focusing on sustainable water management, improving infrastructure, and implementing effective policies, we can ensure that everyone has access to safe drinking water.

The Global Water Crisis

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The article highlights the global water crisis and the lack of access to safe drinking water for 2 billion people worldwide. This aligns with SDG 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Targets:

1. 6.1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
2. 6.2 By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
3. 6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
4. 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
5. 6.5 By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
6. 6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
7. 6.A By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies.
8. 6.B Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.

The targets under SDG 6 focus on ensuring access to safe drinking water, improving water quality, promoting water-use efficiency, protecting water-related ecosystems, and enhancing international cooperation for water and sanitation-related activities.

Indicators:

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
• Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water
• Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
• Indicator 6.4.1: Change in water-use efficiency over time
• Indicator 6.5.2: Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
• Indicator 6.A.1: Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance (ODA) that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
• Indicator 6.B.1: Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management

The article does not explicitly mention these indicators, but it provides information on the lack of access to safe drinking water, which can be used to measure progress towards Indicator 6.1.1.

The Victims of Unsafe Drinking Water

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The article discusses the countries with limited access to clean water, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia. This aligns with SDG 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Targets:

1. 6.1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
2. 6.2 By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.

The targets under SDG 6 focus on ensuring access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene for all.

Indicators:

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
• Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water

The article does not explicitly mention these indicators, but it provides information on the countries with limited access to clean water, which can be used to measure progress towards these indicators.

Bottled Water as a Safe Drinking Option

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The article discusses bottled water as a safe drinking option provided by companies like Nestlé, PepsiCo, and The Coca-Cola Company. This aligns with SDG 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Targets:

1. 6.1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
2. 6.2 By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.

The targets under SDG 6 focus on ensuring access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene for all.

Indicators:

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
• Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water

The article does not explicitly mention these indicators, but it provides information on bottled water as a safe drinking option, which can be used to measure progress towards these indicators.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: finance.yahoo.com

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