Quantify the scale of water contamination (chemical, microbial, and emerging pollutants) affecting drinking water supplies globally, assess the state of water and sanitation infrastructure, and evaluate the economic and health costs of unsafe water access.

World Health Organization GLAAS database analysis across 165 countries. UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) data 2024. Analysis of UNEP emerging contaminant studies. Cross-referenced with Global Burden of Disease estimates for water-related mortality and morbidity.

5 billion lack safely managed sanitation. Waterborne diarrheal disease kills 829,000 children under 5 annually — more than malaria, measles, and AIDS combined. Groundwater — the source for 2 billion people — faces contamination from PFAS ('forever chemicals'), agricultural runoff, and industrial discharge in 40% of monitored aquifers globally.

Wastewater treatment infrastructure in low-income countries operates at 30-50% capacity, with 80% of wastewater in developing regions discharged untreated into surface waters. 4 billion people. The World Bank estimates a $114B annual gap in water and sanitation investment needed to meet SDG 6.