Water Availability

Though water is the body’s principal chemical component the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 1.1 billion people lack access to a potable water source. In addition, approximately 2.6 billion people – half the population of the developing world – do not have access to even a simple latrine. While this raises concerns regarding quality of life and lack of resources in general, individuals who do not have access to clean drinking water and sanitation services are at an increased risk of contracting diarrheal illnesses, including cholera. Though these conditions are easily treated, the regions where they are most prevalent frequently also do not have the necessary medications. By increasing awareness about ways to improve the availability of safe water and sanitation services, it may be possible to reduce transmission and infection rates.

Reports indicate that each year the deaths of 1.6 million people – approximately 90 percent of them children under five years of age - are due to diarrheal illnesses that can be attributed to a lack of access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The WHO defines “basic sanitation” as “the lowest-cost technology ensuring hygienic excreta and sullage disposal.” Further, individuals are said to have “access to drinking water” - “drinking water” defined by the WHO as “water which is used for domestic purposes, drinking, cooking and personal hygiene” - if they are within 1 kilometer of a source that can reliably produce 20 liters per household member per day. According to Siemens, more than a billion people worldwide currently survive on only 3.8 liters (one gallon) of water per day, though experts suggest an intake of approximately 1.5 liters per day.

According to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, over the past decade, the number of individuals living in urban areas who lack access to drinking water in their home or the immediate vicinity has increased by an estimated 114 million, while the number who lack access to basic sanitation facilities has risen by 134 million. An estimated 51 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo have no access to safe drinking water, and between 30 and 60 percent of the urban population of sub-Saharan Africa has no access to the municipal water supply. In these and other regions worldwide where access to potable water and sanitation services are limited, individuals may employ alternative methods of purifying water, such as boiling, chemical disinfection, and filtration. While these methods offer an effective means of generating a supply of safe drinking water, the quality of water used in farming is also critical, as water-borne pathogens on crops can cause diseases such as typhoid and cholera.

Both governmental agencies and non-profit organizations have established initiatives aimed at increasing the availability of water, purifying existing water sources, and improving sanitation services worldwide. By ensuring that safe water is available for consumption and farming, and that sanitation services are sufficient, the transmission of water-borne illnesses can be mitigated. In addition, providing individuals in regions facing shortages of potable water with information about water purification options and treatments for cholera and other diarrheal illnesses can improve the healthcare infrastructure in these areas.

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On Crisis Mapping

Web-based mapping tools have been used to track disease outbreaks, and more recently have been employed in response to natural disasters. Many humanitarian relief efforts have employed crowd-sourcing as a means to gather and share information. By utilizing crowd-sourcing tools including digital maps, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties can collaborate more effectively and improve humanitarian relief responses to natural disasters. For example, crowd-sourced maps can provide disparate networks of volunteers with a simplified way to share information, and can give local relief workers a clearer picture of the situation on the ground as they establish priorities for food, shelter, sanitation services, and healthcare facilities.

The web-reporting platform Ushahidi has been used by human rights and humanitarian aid workers to document and track progress during and immediately following crisis and natural disaster situations. Unlike other similar tools, Ushahidi is open source, and allows for information to be input using cell phones and other web-connected devices. Specialized versions of the Ushahidi crisis-mapping tool are frequently developed following natural disasters, including the recent earthquake in Japan, to allow individuals on the ground to text the locations of individuals in need of assistance or the locations of clinics or hospitals. Recent iterations of Ushahidi have integrated “check-in” functionality as well, further simplifying the process of adding data to the map.

Though crisis-mapping tools were utilized following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the majority of their use was by international aid organizations. In contrast, updates to the Japan Crisis Map have been posted by volunteers, government employees, and others. By encouraging the active participation of more individuals, these types of crisis maps can give a fuller understanding of the situation on the ground. In addition, representatives from academic institutions are participating in efforts to examine the data gathered using crowd-sourced crisis maps and identify ways of improving how information is shared during and immediately following natural disasters. A recent report entitled “Disaster Relief 2.0: The Future of Information Sharing in Humanitarian Emergencies” is guiding these efforts by examining how new technologies can influence emergency relief work. The report documents how technology was used during the earthquake in Haiti and in the weeks and months following to locate survivors, provide information about where to receive assistance, and gather donations for aid organizations.

According to experts, “the crisis-mapping response to the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 was striking proof of the potential of new mapping tools,” and by examining the successes and shortcomings, the tools and technologies can be improved faster, and more efficient.”

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