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Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Development

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    • Education must play a central role to meet the challenges of sustainable development.
      • The hygiene revolution in Europe was concomitant with the general progress of society which began with the industrial era. Harvey V. Fineberg

The hygiene revolution in Europe was concomitant with the general progress of society which began with the industrial era. Harvey V. Fineberg

Progress achieved in the provision and sanitation of water in Europe since the 19th Century has made it possible to radically increase life expectancy. However, unlike developed industrial countries, in developing countries lack of investment in hygiene is still one of the moremost important health risk factors.

To explain recent improvements in the quality of life in the West, we must return to the 19th Century, when the hygiene revolution began. More specifically, attention should be given to progress in the field of sanitation since that time.

Life expectancy remained stable during the first part of the 19th Century. However, mid century, a new event occurred, that is that pure water was first provided to the cities in the Lyons region (second largest city in France situated in the south-east part of the country). Thus, around 1850, clean water became abundant. Although there was some progress, the situation in Paris was not so favourable.

However, progress in Paris only became significant in the last twenty years of the century. It was then that new pumps along the Seine made it possible to double the provision of water. Furthermore, the number of sewers increased significantly; comparing the situation in 1870 to the one in 1900, the number of sewers had more than doubled during that period of time. Finally, in Marseilles (south of France by the Mediterranean sea), the situation only improved in 1890, when a double sewerage system was installed. Around 1900, life expectancy increased considerably over the whole of France. In fact, at that time, Paris was considered to be the cleanest city in the world.

In developed countries, it is possible to say that progress in life expectancy only became significant once the provision of water and sanitation systems had been completed in the principal towns.

According to various studies, in the 1960s and 70s, infant mortality for children under one year of age, caused by disorders involving diarrhoea, the world over, was 23 per 1000. In the 80s, the figure dropped to less than 20 per 1000. However, today, more than 2.5 million children die every year from such causes. The World Health Organisation considers that if the provision of drinking water was satisfactory, this mortality could be reduced by 65%.

What is the situation in the world today? There is a clear difference between two worlds, due to the quality of hygiene and of water management.

The burden of lethal diseases in developing and developed countries can be compared (cf The Lancet 2001). At present, the five gravest risks in developing countries are: malnutrition, high risk sex, doubtful water, lack of hygiene, high blood pressure, and cholesterol.

In contrast, in developed countries, major risks are: high blood pressure, tobacco, alcohol, cholesterol, and obesity. Obviously, this is a static image of the situation, which is evolving. In the United States, the problem of obesity is becoming the main risk, which will probably worsen in coming years.

On the whole, more efforts have been devoted to the provision of drinking water than to water management. It is therefore important to combine progress as regards water sanitation and health concerns. Kofi Annan ( the United Nations General Secretary) recently stated that access to safe drinking water is a fundamental need, and therefore a human right.

In the future, we shall have to face up to the challenges awaiting us. The urban population in developing countries will be growing more than anywhere else in the next 25 years.

With this in mind, a dual problem confronts us as regards drinking water and sanitation: supply the necessary services in the tentacular the sprawling cities of developing countries, and make similar progress in medium sized towns. Nor should we forget that over and above the problems already highlighted (natural disasters, poverty, limited natural resources) there will soon be another problem with which to cope, that of global warming which will exacerbate the shortage of safe drinking water.

To make water drinkable is to defend life

Live beings need water to live and survive but water transports dangerous components. They are pathogenic agents, bringing cholera, bacillary dysentery, salmonella, or the rotavirus.
Renaud PIARROUX, Professor of Parasitology and Mycology, Director ot the Rural Health and Environment Group (SERF - Santé et Environnement Rural) at the University of Franche-Comté.

The environment: a determinant factor for human health

As well as biological and behavioural factors, the environment is recognized as one of the major determinants of human health. The provision of drinking water and sanitation are among the measures that mostly contribute to the improvement of public health and the expansion of social and economic life.
 William DAB, Director General, French Ministry of Health