Nutriation

Sustainability 2012, 4, 3023-3041; doi:10.3390/su4113023
OPEN ACCESS

sustainability
ISSN 2071-1050 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Commentary

The Economic and Social Benefits and the Barriers of Providing
People with Disabilities Accessible Clean Water and Sanitation
Jacqueline Noga 1 and Gregor Wolbring 2,*
1

2

Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1,
Canada; E-Mail: [e-mail]
Faculty of Medicine, Department Community Health Sciences, Stream of Community
Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary,
Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [e-mail];
Tel.:[phone]; Fax: [phone].
Received: 11 September 2012; in revised form: 23 October 2012 / Accepted: 6 November 2012 /
Published: 12 November 2012

Abstract: Resolution A/HRC/RES/16/2 adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on 8 April 2011 declared access to safe drinking water and sanitation a human right.
However many people around the globe including people with disabilities do not have access to safe drinking water, hygiene or sanitation facilities. Inaccessibility of clean water sources, hygiene and sanitation facilities negatively impacts among others health, education, the ability to work, and the ability to partake in social activities. This paper looks at the benefits of, and access barriers to, clean water and sanitation for people with disabilities.
Keywords: accessibility; accessible infrastructure; clean water; benefit; disability; economic; sanitation

1. Introduction
Approximately 884 million people lack access to safe water sources and more than 2.6 billion people do not have access to sanitation (a system for the collection, transport, treatment and disposal or re-use of human excreta and associated hygiene [1]) [2]. Access to clean water and sanitation is also a
major

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