Poor WASH is an environmental hazard that can affect human health as well as wildlife, ocean, and ecosystems, experts say.
“Globally, our sanitation impacts water quality in communities across the globe,” said Erica Perez, Coral Reef Alliance’s senior program manager in Hawaii.
In many countries, for example, there are no treatment plants for fecal sludge, which means it’s often emptied into the environment and bodies of water, said Josiane Nikiema, research group leader of circular economy and water pollution at the International Water Management Institute. “Sanitation becomes a direct contributor to environmental pollution and to causing a number of negative health impacts on the communities that are exposed to these kinds of issues.”
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About the author
Rebecca L. Root
Rebecca L. Root is a freelance reporter for Devex based in Bangkok. Previously senior associate & reporter, she produced news stories, video, and podcasts as well as partnership content. She has a background in finance, travel, and global development journalism and has written for a variety of publications while living and working in Bangkok, New York, London, and Barcelona.