Today, more than 60 per cent of humanity lives in water-stressed areas, where water supply is not sufficient to meet demand or will cease to do so. In 2018, Water Aid published a report titled: 'The Water Deficit - State of the World's Water 2018'. It showed that it is the poor and the least powerful who are most often deprived of access to clean water. But new data linking access to water and household wealth also reveal that, even in countries that are making progress, there are still huge disparities between the richest and the poorest.
For this reason, it is important to define the inequalities that exist in accessing water, which depends on many factors: where the person is, his or her social and economic situation, age, education or ethnicity.
Access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene must be seen as fundamental elements for health, education, nutrition and gender equality. Without them, the consequences can be devastating for those who suffer:
- Health problems.
- Safety risks
- Dropping out of school.
- Loss of income.
- Social discrimination.
- Gender inequality and exploitation.
