Access to safe drinking water is estimated by the percentage of the population using improved drinking water sources, as described below. Similarly, access to sanitary means of excreta disposal is estimated by the percentage of the population using improved sanitation facilities. Improved sanitation facilities are those more likely to ensure privacy and hygienic use. Improved drinking water technologies are those more likely to provide safe drinking water than those characterized as unimproved. See The Joint Monitoring Programme for a discussion of other issues concerning definitions.
- Improved drinking water sources
- Household connection
- Public standpipe
- Borehole
- Protected dug well
- Protected spring
- Rainwater collection
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- Unimproved drinking water sources
- Unprotected well
- Unprotected spring
- Rivers or ponds
- Vendor-provided water
- Bottled water*
- Tanker truck water
- Improved sanitation facilities
- Connection to a public sewer
- Connection to a septic system
- Pour-flush latrine
- Simple pit latrine**
- Ventilated improved pit latrine
- Unimproved sanitation facilities
- Public or shared latrine
- Open pit latrine
- Bucket latrine
*Bottled water is not considered improved due to limitations in the potential quantity, not quality, of the water.
**Only a portion of poorly defined categories of latrines are included in sanitation coverage estimates.