At first glance, the idea of World Toilet Day may be perplexing. But if you’ve ever needed a plumber, you know that having a working toilet is something to celebrate. World Toilet Day, observed on November 19, 2024, exists to remind us: 3.5 billion people – Around half of all people – lack access to safe sanitation.
terrible situation
Basic facilities, such as how to safely manage human waste and access to soap and water to wash hands, are anything but basic. As of 2022, approximately 420 million people still practice open defecation due to lack of accessible toilets. The good news is that 253 million fewer people relieve themselves outdoors. than in 2019.
Even where toilets exist, 80% of wastewater from toilets returns to the environment untreated. And 40% of the world’s population does not have handwashing facilities at home. Even in the United States, 63 million people are at risk of drinking contaminated water, with almost 2 million There are no indoor plumbing.
It’s not only terrible, it’s dangerous. More than 800 children under the age of five die every day from diarrheal diseases. Adults are also susceptible to water-borne illnesses. Almost in 2021 1.2 million people deaths from diarrheal diseases around the world, According to Our World In DataThe dead included 443,832 children.
world toilet day
In 2013, the United Nations designated November 19th as: world toilet day To break taboos around toilets and raise awareness of sustainable hygiene options. Since then, the United Nations has been working to develop safe and sustainable sanitation options to end open defecation. From 2018 to 2028 Declaring “10 years of water action” Accelerate improved access to safe water and sanitation to address increasing pressures on water resources and ecosystems, including the risk of drought and floods.
of World Toilet Day 2024 focus The impact of the climate crisis and conflict on access to safe and sanitary human waste treatment facilities, described by the United Nations as “places of peace.” Inadequate sanitation systems allow human waste to spread into rivers, lakes and soil, contaminating groundwater, the most abundant source of fresh water. However, safely managed sanitation facilities protect groundwater from contamination by human waste. of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 The aim is to ensure that everyone has access to safe toilets by 2030. Unfortunately, we are far from achieving this goal.
Toilets and climate change
Climate change is making hygiene management difficult. Storms and rising sea levels threaten entire sanitation systems through flooding and contamination of drinking water and food crops. By 2050, up to 5.7 billion people will experience at least one month of drought per year, putting traditional septic and sewer systems at risk. Composting toilets and modern waterless designs can be more sustainable and resilient options.
Sustainable sanitation systems can also be part of the solution to climate change. Reducing water consumption and losses and increasing the energy efficiency of treatment systems reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Properly treated wastewater and sludge will revitalize agriculture. Biogas can also be recovered and used for green energy generation.
What can you do?
Sustainability starts at home. Check if your water is safe and take steps to improve it if it isn’t. Learn to prevent disease hand washing techniques. Consider whether a composting toilet is an option, and if not, upgrade to a more efficient toilet.
Learn more about UNICEF. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs and the united nations sustainable development goal 6. and let others know about it too world toilet day To raise awareness about the importance of toilets in saving lives.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on November 12, 2020 and updated in November 2024.
