A Malawian lady collects water from an open source in a field
Photo: WaterAid/Kate Holt

A new interactive map, published by the international development charity WaterAid has been launched online showing that 14 African governments are on course or within touching distance of reaching the historic mark of everyone in their countries having access to clean drinking water by 2030.

African countries currently on track at current rates of progress to reach 100% of coverage for clean drinking water by or before 2030 are South Africa,  Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda, Egypt, Tunisia, Guinea-Bissau  and Ghana.

Others currently on track at current rates of progress to reach over 90% of coverage for clean drinking water by 2030: are Cameroon, Morocco, Mali, Guinea and  Benin

The map has been released on the day that African water ministers and delegates arrive for the start of African Water Week conference in Dakar, Senegal for crucial talks as to whether they should back a proposed new global Sustainable Development Goal for universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene by the year 2030.

WaterAid are lobbying ministers and delegates at the conference for the outcome communiqué to include such a commitment.

Nelson Gomonda, WaterAid’s Pan-African Program Manager said: “This map shows that a new water, sanitation and hygiene Sustainable Development Goal that puts Africa on track to everyone having access to these essential services by 2030 is realistic and achievable.

“Many African countries are already on course to achieve this historic milestone at current rates of progress, and most others can get there with relatively modest improvements in levels of access.

“Ministers at Africa Water Week conference should grasp this opportunity to set in motion a happier, healthier and more prosperous future for everyone on the continent.”

The map is understood to be the first online interactive data representation project produced with a predominantly African audience in mind, which is increasingly online and social media savvy.

According to the International Telecommunications Union, around 177 million Africans are now internet users while over 50 million Africans have Facebook accounts.

The African Water Map shows that on average, 28 million people are gaining access to water each year across Africa, but that if this increased by an extra 17 million people, that everyone everywhere across the continent would have access to clean water by 2030.

Currently over a third of Africa’s, 325 million, lack access to clean drinking water, while over 70%, 643 million, go without basic sanitation.

A lack of access to these services costs sub-Saharan Africa over $50 billion USD every year in health care costs and lost productivity, more than the continent receives in aid.

Nearly half a million Africans (481,000) die every year because of diarrhoea diseases attributable to a lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene.  A lack of access to these essential services is also understood have a substantial impact on the prevalence and mortality associated with pneumonia, and under-nutrition on the continent.

The UN has estimated that half the hospital beds in developing countries are filled with people suffering from diseases caused by poor water, sanitation and hygiene.