Lancaster University is leading a new project, in collaboration with British Water, which aims to address how to transform infrastructure and practice in this relatively small space, leading to measurable improvements to ‘quality of life’ for poor urban people.

While there has been much improvement in the delivery of potable water to millions of urban poor across the globe, there are still millions who do not have access to potable water and are plagued by water-borne diseases.

The biggest problem is with informal communities where settlements lack sewerage systems, are commonly located on low-lying and poorly drained lands, and toilets drain into poorly constructed pits or septic tanks. According to research, the most dangerous area is ‘the last 100 metres’ – where water is taken from the standpipe to the home.

The inhabitants of these informal settlements lack both awareness of and provisions for safe handling and disposal of infant faeces, creating a haven for germs. Added to this, poor personal hygiene, insect and rodent vectors, and the use of dirty buckets, both potable water and food is infected. This contributes to household poverty, childhood malnourishment, and high maternal/ infant mortality rates.

Lancaster University’s research study has five objectives:

1. Examining the extent to which ‘neglect of sewage removal from unplanned settlements’ limits achievement of SDG targets 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3

2. Exploring why neither market-based nor state-civic interventions have succeeded in reducing contamination in ‘the last 100 meters’

3. Identifying the practices that have emerged to counter the market-state-civic society failure and assessing the constraints and opportunities they offer

4. Distinguishing contamination that originates from within settlements from what comes from their surrounds – to ensure community ownership of problems and achievements

5. Experimenting with delivery of programmes through NGO partners and community participation, that ensure potable water remains safe

The project will involve observational and action research in Tanzania, Bangladesh, Dar-es-Salaam and Dhaka and will build partnerships with local, regional and international stakeholders to initiate a research-led ‘Safeguarding the last 100 metres’ campaign to achieve SDGs targets 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 for the urban poor in South Asia and Africa.

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