Why Now?
Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Director-General of WHO, said recently:
Simple, inexpensive measures, both individual and collective, are available that will provide clean water for millions and millions of people in developing countries - now, not in 10 or 20 years. It makes no sense, and it is not acceptable, to ignore the immediate priorities of the most needy.
The cost of not doing everything possible to achieve 100 percent coverage of safe water and sanitation is significantly higher that the cost of meeting this challenge. Water is not a "one of many" issue. It is the single issue which if handled properly will serve as a point of entry to tackle any number of other social development challenges. It is the single issue which, unless addressed properly, will make it impossible for developing nations to reach the status of the developed world.
Universal coverage of water and sanitation is a reality - in North America and Europe. Universal coverage is possible, and it is possible now, in the developing world. Now is not the time to tread water. Now is the time to move forward.