Sanitation sustainability.. How to enhance human health and achieve sustainable development?

In recent years, sanitation sustainability remains a prominent topic for the intertwined challenges facing humanity at the levels of health, environment, society, and economy. With the increase in population and the expansion of urban growth, the management of basic resources – such as water, energy, and health services – has become a vital issue that is directly linked to the ability of societies to survive and thrive.

In this context, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approved by the United Nations are at the heart of global policies, and the provision of sustainable sanitation services is considered one of their essential elements. In order to ensure human health, protect the environment, and raise their standard of living.

On this importance, on which the concept of sanitation sustainability is based,Earth Guards sheds light, and addresses ways to enhance this vital sector, in terms of it being an element of the environment that preserves human health and achieves the sustainability of his entire life. So keep reading.

A global crisis that goes beyond infrastructure

Hundreds of millions of people around the world live without access to safe sanitation facilities, and this puts them in direct contact with waterborne diseases, and increases the vulnerability of the most vulnerable groups, especially children.

International experiences indicate that the slow progress in this sector is due to the lack of technical knowledge, the absence of political will, and the declining priority of sanitation compared to other sectors. More than 3 billion people around the world still lack access to safely managed sanitation services.

To achieve universal coverage of sustainable sanitation services by 2030, WHO and UNICEF reports –JMP– indicate the need to at least quadruple the current pace of progress, warning that the current path is insufficient to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6: clean water and sanitation!

Improved sanitation

A sanitation system is considered improved – according to international standards – when it prevents direct contact with human waste and limits pollution of the surrounding environment. This includes: toilets connected to safe drainage networks or treatment tanks, and secure pit systems.

On the other hand, open or primitive practices, which empty waste into streets or open sewers, are classified as unsafe systems. Because of its health and environmental risks, in addition to the economic damage; Because such practices in sewage systems cost countries billions of dollars annually. Due to increased health spending, loss of productivity, and environmental degradation; Which makes improving this system a development necessity that is no less important than providing water itself.

Is sanitation sustainability a technical concept?

It may come to mind that sanitation sustainability means establishing new facilities, and the truth is that sanitation sustainability is based on a comprehensive vision that balances five main dimensions: She is:

Health Dimension

The primary goal of any sanitation system is to break the cycle of disease transmission, starting from the site of use, through collection and treatment operations, all the way to reuse or final disposal, without exposing humans or workers in the sector to any risks.

Environmental protection and natural resources

The sustainability of sanitation requires reducing water and energy consumption, reducing polluting emissions, while maximizing the benefit of waste through safe reuse, whether in agriculture or bioenergy production, in a way that supports the circular economy and preserves non-renewable resources.

AFor technical efficiency and flexibility

Sewage systems must be operable and maintainable locally, suitable for climatic and social conditions, and able to withstand natural disasters, population changes, and the repercussions of climate change.

Economic feasibility

Sustainable sanitation is also measured by the ability of families and communities to bear the costs of construction and operation, in exchange for the indirect returns that these systems achieve, such as reducing health spending, creating job opportunities, and improving overall productivity.

Social and institutional acceptance

No sanitation system will succeed without its compatibility with the local culture, its respect for human dignity, and its consideration of gender differences, in addition to the presence of supportive legal and institutional frameworks that regulate management, follow-up, and accountability.

Governing Principles for Fairer Sanitation

In addition to these dimensions on which the concept of sanitation sustainability is built, international experiences confirm that sustainable sanitation cannot be imposed from above; It requires involving local communities in decision-making, viewing waste as a resource rather than a burden, and linking solutions to the local level from the family to the neighborhood, city, and water collection and treatment plants.

From the above,The Earth Guards Foundationbelieves that the sustainability of sanitation is an issue of social justice and an inherent human right. Therefore, ensuring that all communities – regardless of their economic or geographical conditions – have access to safe health facilities, is an essential step towards reducing poverty and achieving balanced development.

TheFoundation believes that the ideal solution lies in developing local systems with community participation, linking healthy practices with food security and clean energy, with a focus on educating individuals and making them aware of the importance of resources and their reuse.