Significant progress has been made since the beginning of the Decade in providing people with access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation:

• Since 1990 well over 2.3 billion people have gained access to an improved source of drinking water and 116 countries have met the MDG target for water. More than half of the world’s population, almost 4 million people, now enjoy the highest level of water access: a piped water connection in their homes.
• The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) drinking water target coverage of 88% was met in 2010, 5 years ahead of schedule despite significant global population growth.
• Almost 2 billion people have gained access to improved sanitation and 77 countries have met the MDG target.
• Between 1990 and 2012, open defecation decreased from 24 per cent to 14 per cent globally.
• Global attention to water and sanitation has increased and there has been significant progress in water cooperation and the engagement of women in water and sanitation issues.

In providing the world’s population with an improved water source and basic sanitation we still have a lot to do and the future is full of challenges. To build this future upon solid foundations we must acknowledge and celebrate our successes. Don’t you think so?

We learn by listening to others. Here you will find the voices of those whose water and sanitation life has changed over the last 10 years.

Listen to their voices, your voices!

• Access to water
• Ecosystems
• Empowering communities
• Food security
• Gender and water
• Groundwater
• Hygiene
• Open defecation
• Participation
• Sustainable development
• Water and culture
• Water and disasters
• Water and energy
• Water and health
• Water for cities
• Water efficiency
• Water quality
• Water scarcity