Sanitation is a Good Economic Investment
The impact of good sanitation results in massive savings in medical costs - both for the families affected and for the health system.
A healthier society has less sick time, allowing families be more productive and generate more income.
Protecting local water sources from pollution contributes to the production of higher quality products.
Improved sanitation has a positive impact on economic growth and poverty reduction.
The economic cost of inaction is huge.
Facts
- $1 invested in sanitation results in economic gains of between $3 and $34*
- Achieving the MDG for sanitation would result in $66 billion gained through prevented sick time, increased productivity, avoided illness and prevented deaths**
- 2.5 billion people without sanitation present a large "untapped" market
- Were these markets to be developed, this would present opportunities for local and international businesses alike.
* Bartram, Hutton and Haller, 2007
** Hutton and Haller 2004