Engineers Without Borders
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Sustainability in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Access to water, sanitation and hygiene is a human right, yet billions are still faced with daily challenges accessing even the most basic of services. According to the United Nations 2.6 billion people worldwide have gained access to improved drinking water sources since 1990, but 663 million people are still without. Around 1.8 billion people globally use a source of drinking water that is fecally contaminated and some 2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets or latrines.
Water and sanitation related diseases remain among the major causes of death in children under five. As a result the United Nations has set Sustainable Development Goal #6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
There are many projects developed around the world to help achieve this goal. One of the challenges often faced is the long-term sustainability of the water and sanitation infrastructure. Many of these projects will provide access to water but neglect the surrounding support that is required to maintain the system.
This talk will focus on strategies for sustainable implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene programming drawing on examples from work carried out the Democratic Republic of Congo. We will explore some lessons learned from field experience in a water and sanitation development program such as: Who needs to be involved in the project? How does water and sanitation infrastructure fit into a larger service system? What should be incorporated in project plans to support long term accessibility?
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