On 19 November each year, we mark World Toilet Day (WTD) to shine a spotlight on a crisis that too often remains invisible: billions of people around the world still lack access to safe, decent sanitation.
As a plumber in Coogee, I see how vital indoor sanitation, hygiene, and water services are – and I’m keen to remind everyone of how interconnected toilets, water, gender safety, environment, and human dignity really are.
📊 Key statistics
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only about 57% of the global population (≈ 4.6 billion people) used a safely managed sanitation service. This leaves around 1.7 billion people without it. (who.int)
- A striking fact: more people have mobile phones than access to toilets in many developing countries. Out of an estimated 7 billion people, ~6 billion have access to mobile phones, but only ~4.5 billion have access to working toilets. (Time Magazine)
- Gender matters: half a billion women lack a private place to defecate, and over 500 million women and girls lack proper access to menstrual hygiene facilities. (wellawareworld.org)
- Water and sanitation are tightly linked: billions of people still lack access to safely managed sanitation services, which affects both health and clean water availability. (un.org)
Why it all matters
1. Health & dignity
Lack of toilets leads to disease, water contamination, and compromised dignity. Girls and women often miss school or work when sanitation facilities are inadequate.
2. Women’s safety
Unsafe or unavailable toilets force women to go outside in the dark or walk long distances, increasing the risk of harassment or assault. Safe, private, accessible sanitation is a key enabler of gender equality and personal safety.
3. Water conservation
Good toilet design and usage is a major part of water efficiency. Fix leaking cisterns, install dual-flush toilets, and reduce wastage – small steps at home make a real difference.
4. Human development
Access to sanitation frees up time for education and work, reduces disease, and improves overall community wellbeing. Every investment in WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) pays dividends.
How you can help
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Educate & share: Post on social media, your workplace, or community groups about the importance of sanitation. Use #WorldToiletDay.
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Choose impact products: Purchase from ethical businesses that support sanitation projects, like Who Gives A Crap. They donate 50% of profits to clean-water and sanitation charities. (au.whogivesacrap.org)