The current global water and sanitation crisis has a profoundly negative impact on the environment. Water is a fundamental part of ecosystems, and everything within a watershed is connected.
In developing nations, nearly all sewage systems are being emptied into rivers, lakes, and nearby streams that communities use for drinking water.18 Along with polluting drinking water sources, discharging untreated sewage pollutes the environment and affects plant and aquatic life. According to research studies by the United Nations Environment Programme, coastal habitats, fisheries, and marine wildlife in the South Asian Sea are threatened by untreated sewage discharge into coastal waters.19
Improving sanitation improves the environment by safely disposing human waste and creates healthier living conditions for plants, animals, and humans. If the 2.5 billion people presently living without adequate sanitation gain access to even a simple latrine, environmental sustainability and health will improve dramatically.
Lifewater is working with in-country partner organizations and local communities to improve sanitation practices and training local individuals to design and build sustainable sanitation systems in their own communities.
