(Kevin) Water and Sanitation

If we know that water and sanitation services are essential for human health, why are there still so many people who lack access to safe drinking water?
The answer to this question is complicated - and I will only ever be able to begin exploring the answers. Through years of collaboration with communities (since 2006), NGOs, and district governments in Malawi, EWB has explored the reasons behind inadequate water coverage in Malawi.
In many parts of Malawi, poor access to water isn't necessarily because there isn't access to these water points*, but is often because the technology used at these points isn't functioning properly. It's the quality over quantity argument - what good is drilling 5 new wells in a community if they won't be working in a year and can't be easily fixed?
Also, there is often a difference between coverage rates outlined on paper and the realities in the field. As a hypothetical example, let's say a report presented to a donor outlines that there are 50 wells located in a certain district, which statistically would provide water access for everyone in that district. But what if 15 of those well aren't functioning, and 20 of those wells cover only 20% of the district? This means that only 15 wells are left to cover 80% of the district! This is a very exaggerated example, but it outlines the need for change in this approach.
The Decision Support System is appropriate technological approach that uses systems thinking and simple Microsoft Excel programs (pivot tables and maps) to collect, store, and analyze data regarding water point access and functionality rates. Users of this approach include district governments, field workers, and NGOs. The hope is that this approach can become another tool in the toolbox - an appropriate strategy that governments and decision makers can use to make more informed decisions.
So why is this shift in thinking important? Well, a few reasons include:
1) It will minimize the bias that exist in regards to infrastructure development (this the focus of my placement this summer, and something I will be talking about at great lengths).
2) It will use minimize money that is wasted on clustered infrastructure development (this is also something that I'll be touching on this summer).
3) It will paint a more realistic picture and current image of water coverage in Malawi.
EWB hopes that the percentage of non-functioning water access points will decrease from 40% to 10% in the next 5 years. I look forward to sharing updates on this progress through conversations this summer.
Happy long weekend!
-Kevin
*NOTE: water points are sources of water, usually a borehole or source protected well, meeting regulated standards which allow them to be considered a providing potable water free from contamination