Human health and well-being are dependent on safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Safe water and sanitation are not only essential for good health, but they also contribute to livelihoods, school attendance, and dignity, as well as helping to build resilient communities in healthy settings.
Drinking contaminated water causes ailments including diarrhoea, and untreated feces contaminates groundwater and surface waters used for drinking, irrigation, bathing, and other household reasons.
Water and hygiene standards in Germany are among the highest in the world. Water from the tap can be drunk almost everywhere in Germany without any problems. The drinking water is of very good quality, unlike in many other countries.
Germany's contribution to the global WASH program consists primarily of maintaining the country's own quality and exporting technologies, equipment and knowledge to other countries.