“On any measure of efficiency, investment in water and sanitation has the potential to generate a high return. Every 1 Dollar spent in this sector creates on average another 8 Dollars in cost averted and productivity gained. Beyond this static gain, improved access to water and sanitation has the potential to generate long-run dynamic effects that will boost economic efficiency.
Whether measured against the benchmark of human suffering, economic waste or extreme poverty, the water and sanitation deficit inflicts a terrifying toll. The flip side is the potential for reducing that deficit as a means for human progress.
Water and sanitation are among the most powerful preventative medicines available to governments to reduce infectious disease. Investment in this area is to killer diseases like diarrhoea what immunisation is to measles – a life saver”