Task Force on Access to Water & Sanitation

Background

Lack of access to adequate clean water is one of the most devastating effects and causes of poverty. Currently, an estimated 1.1 billion people lack access to safe water, 2.6 billion are without adequate sanitation, and more than 4 billion do not have their wastewater treated to any degree. Since Kyoto 2003 IWA has focused on stimulating innovation in Access to water.

The aims of the Access to Water Task Force

In essence, this initiative will seek to identify and present the current state of knowledge about the mechanisms to boost access to water, especially in developing countries, highlight any gaps or uncertainties in that knowledge and pursue some of the questions that arise. Many IWA members have acknowledged the need to spend time and effort in this area of work as well as the importance of focusing where the needs are greatest. Outputs from the task group should contribute to accelerating change and provide solutions in Access to Water.

Activities of the Task Force

• The task force on 'Access to water' was formed in Vienna at the IWA World Water Congress, Tuesday 9th of Sep 2008
• The task force will operate during a 2 – year period. The outputs would then be planned and produced in time for the next World Water Congress in Montreal 2010 that can act as platform to present and disseminate the work of the task force. Read here about the programme fro this event.