The collection and safe disposal of human waste and the treatment of wastewater containing human waste are crucial to protecting human and ecosystem health. Clean drinking water sources cannot be guaranteed without addressing sanitation issues, since human excreta is a serious source of drinking water contamination that can lead to disease and death.

Increasing the provision of sanitation facilities and improving sanitation facilities and infrastructure is an important global challenge, particularly in developing countries. A study of sanitation coverage in 2000 estimated that globally, 86% of urban dwellers had access to sanitation compared to 38% of rural inhabitants. Overall, approximately 60% of the world’s population had access to sanitation in 2000. 1

The importance of local government action is becoming increasingly recognized. The Bonn Keys for Sustainable Development, an outcome of the 2001 International Conference on Freshwater in Germany, make specific reference to the vital role played by local governments in the water and sanitation sector:

International agreements such as the Johannesburg Implementation Plan and the Millennium Development Goals include a variety of specific goals and targets related to sanitation. The links below identify text from these agreements in five different areas related to sanitation and outline the potential impact of local governments in each area.

• Provision of Sanitation Facilities—Urban Sanitation
• Provision of Sanitation Facilities—Rural Sanitation
• Sanitation Infrastructure and Facilities
• Gender and Equity
• Wastewater Treatment
• Direct References to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Millennium Development Goals