alum a "double salt" that occurs naturally in various minerals and is used to cause pollutants to settle out of water. Most are white crystals. The most common alums are potassium sulfate, sodium sulfate and ammonium sulfate.
bacteria a class of microscopic organisms (that is, living things that are so small they cannot be seen without a microscope), many of which cause diseases
bore-hole/bore-well a well that has been drilled or bored by a machine to reach a source of underground freshwater
breakbone fever (dengue) a flu-like illness involving a high fever and extreme pain and stiffness in the joints (hence the name 'breakbone fever', though bones do not actually break). Dengue is caused by a virus which is carried by mosquitoes. It normally lasts for up to 10 days. There is no cure, but most people get better on their own
chlorine a chemical that is added to water to kill off some germs and make water safe for drinking.
cholera an acute infection of the intestine that is caused by drinking water contaminated by the faeces of human beings or animals. Cholera begins very suddenly with watery diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. Untreated, this can lead to fatal (deadly) dehydration, but prompt and adequate treatment with Oral Rehydration Solution is an effective treatment
contaminate to make impure or unfit for use
contaminant something that makes water or other substances impure or unfit for use
defecate to move your bowels or pass faeces
dehydration a condition in which your body loses water. Serious dehydration can be fatal (deadly)
development growth and change that improves standards of living and quality of life. 'Sustainable' development is doing this without causing social or environmental damage, or depleting (reducing) resources
diarrhoea (diarrhoeal disease) a condition in which your faeces are very watery, which can lead to dehydration. Diarrhoea is one of the main causes of children's death in the developing world.
excrement faeces
excreta faeces and urine
faeces a formal word for human solid waste ('shit', 'poop', 'poo', 'crap', etc.)
filter a device or material that allows liquid through but stops solids/particles of a certain size, so the fluid is cleaned
fluoride a naturally occurring chemical that is sometimes added to water or toothpaste to reduce tooth decay, but which in larger doses is poisonous, causing fluorosis. Fluorosis can stain the teeth, or in very high doses lead to bone damage, bone malformations and even death
fluorosis ingestion of excess fluoride, most commonly in drinking water, can cause fluorosis which affects the teeth and bones
global warming the gradual rise of average temperatures around the world. Many experts believe that human activity, and in particular the burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas) for energy, is helping to warm the planet. This is because burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and this pollution acts as a kind of blanket or greenhouse, trapping heat. Although there is no doubt that the world is heating up, there is uncertainty about the extent that humans are to blame, because we know from geological evidence that the global climate has gone though periods of great warming and cooling without human intervention. The ice ages are an example of this
guinea worm a parasitic worm that can get into the body by way of contaminated water through a cut or opening in the skin. It can then grow up to three feet long, moving through the body and ending up near the skin, where it causes swelling and painful blisters. Worms have to be surgically removed or pulled out very gradually
hygiene the science of keeping you healthy, particularly by means of sanitary practices such as washing your hands after using a toilet or latrine and before you handle food
improved water sources are defined in the Millennium Development Goals as: household connection to the main water supply; a public standpipe; a bore-hole; a protected dug well; a protected spring; or rainwater collection
improved sanitation facilities are defined in the Millennium Development Goals as: connection to a public sewer; connection to a septic system; a pour-flush latrine (see latrine); a pit latrine (see latrine)
industry the manufacture of goods
intestine a body organ that absorbs nutrients from food and prepares unwanted matter for removal from your body. The intestine connects the stomach to the anus
intestinal parasitic infection a disease of the intestine caused by a parasite
Japanese encephalitis a disease caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes. Most people who are infected have mild symptoms or none at all, but the virus can lead to a flu-like illness and even swelling of the brain (encephalitis), which can be fatal (deadly). There is no cure, but there is a vaccine
latrine a site or structure (not connected to a main water supply and sewer) designed to receive and dispose of excreta. A pit latrine is a simple pit covered by a slab of wood or concrete with a drop-hole. A 'pour-flush' latrine uses water to flush away the excreta into a pit
malaria a disease of the blood that is spread by mosquitoes, which breed by still water. People who are infected usually have recurring bouts of chills, fever and sweating, often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhoea. Medicines exist to treat malaria and to help prevent it. Other control measures include mosquito nets and other barriers such as draining stagnant water and insecticides. Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in the under-14 age group.
parasite (adjective parasitic) an animal or plant that lives in or on another 'host' animal or plant, taking nourishment from the host without giving anything in return
pesticides chemicals designed to kill insect pests on crops
polio a disease caused by a virus. Polio can damage the nervous system and cause paralysis (inability to move), particularly in the legs. Polio is mainly spread through human faeces. There is no cure, but there is a vaccine
refuse pit a place where people leave their garbage
river blindness (trachoma) an eye and skin disease caused by a parasitic worm. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of blackflies that breed in fast-flowing streams and rivers. It can cause blindness and severe skin damage. It can be treated with medication
roundworm parasitic worms that infect the intestine through contaminated water, causing diarrhoea and other problems in the digestive system (the part of the body that deals with food and drink), as well as inflammation of the lungs. Roundworm can be eliminated with medication, but prevention by providing access to clean water is the top priority
safe water water that is free of contaminants. It often comes from improved water sources.
sanitary promoting good health
sanitation measures to promote good health, especially those involving safe disposal of excreta and maintaining a clean environment
schistosomiasis a disease caused by parasitic worms that live in freshwater in the tropics and spread by snails. Schistosomiasis can cause rashes and itchy skin, flu-like symptoms, and problems with the liver, intestine and bladder. The worms can be killed with medical treatment, but the priority is providing clean water sources and developing a vaccine
sewage waste material and water carried off by sewers or drains
sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) a disease spread by the tsetse fly. Sleeping sickness causes fever and affects the brain and spinal cord, making sufferers extremely tired. It is often fatal, but it can be treated with medicine. Efforts at control include the use of insecticides and maintaining very large clearings around villages to keep the flies away
toilet a bowl for excreta. The excreta is then flushed down a sewer by water
trachoma an eye disease caused by an infectious agent similar to bacteria. Trachoma may eventually lead to blindness. Face-washing with clean water and soap can prevent the transmission of the disease, especially among children
tuberculosis (TB) a potentially fatal disease that usually attacks the lungs. Tuberculosis bacteria are spread from person to person through the air when the infected person coughs or spits?. There are medications for treating TB, but TB bacteria have developed immunity to many of them
typhoid fever a disease caused by bacteria that usually enter the body through the mouth in contaminated food or water. Typhoid causes a very high fever that lasts for three weeks or more and can be fatal. Typhoid can be treated with medications - and prevented by clean water!
vaccine a medicine that gives you a mild form of a disease, stimulating your immune system so that it will resist the disease in the future
virus a microscopic infectious agent that can multiply only in living cells
wastewater used water - including sewage - from homes, communities or industries
water-based disease a disease that spreads through water contaminated with parasites (worms), either when you drink it or when it penetrates the skin, usually through an open wound. Water-based diseases include schistosomiasis and guinea worm
water-borne disease a disease that spreads through water containing human or animal faeces and urine, either when you drink such water directly or you eat food that has been cleaned with it. Water-bourne diseases include cholera and other diarrhoeal disease; typhoid fever; polio; roundworm; and whipworm. Water-borne diseases also count as water-washed
water-related disease any disease whose spread is related to water in some way. The four types are: water-borne disease, water-washed disease, water-based disease, and water-related insect vector disease
water-related insect disease a disease that is carried by insects that breed in or near dirty water, such as mosquitoes
water-washed disease a disease that spreads as a result of poor personal hygiene and skin or eye contact with dirty water. Such diseases are called 'water-washed' because they are caused by lack of proper sanitation and hygiene, and so washing with water can protect you from infection
whipworm a parasite that infects the intestine and can cause diarrhoea, bleeding in the intestine, vomiting, weight loss and anaemia (a shortage of red blood cells, which makes you weak and tired). It is spread though faeces. Medical treatment is effective, but prevention through sanitation is much more so!
yellow fever a disease caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes. Many infections are mild, but severe infections lead to high fever and sometimes liver and kidney failure. There is no specific treatment. Yellow fever can be prevented with a vaccine and by mosquito control
