Mapping safe drinking water use in low- and middle-income countries

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Public health
• Geospatial analysis

Background:

• Access to safe drinking water is a recognized human right.
• Data on safely managed drinking water services (SMDWS) is significantly lacking for over half the global population.
• Monitoring global access to safe water requires innovative approaches to address data gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the use of safely managed drinking water services (SMDWS) in 135 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) at subnational levels.
• To identify the primary factors limiting access to SMDWS in LMICs.
• To demonstrate the utility of geospatial modeling in filling data gaps for global water monitoring.

Main Methods:

• A geospatial modeling approach was employed to estimate SMDWS use.
• The model integrated existing household survey data with global geospatial datasets.
• Analysis was conducted at subnational levels across 135 LMICs.

Main Results:

• An estimated one in three people in LMICs used SMDWS in 2020.
• Fecal contamination was identified as the principal limiting factor, affecting nearly half the population in LMICs.
• Geospatial modeling successfully filled critical data gaps, identifying priority areas.

Conclusions:

• Current global monitoring approaches for safe drinking water face significant limitations.
• Geospatial data and modeling are powerful tools for estimating water service access and identifying areas needing intervention.
• Targeted strategies are needed to address fecal contamination and improve safe drinking water access in LMICs.