As the UK water industry prepares to manage the impacts of climate change, this report highlights how important WASH is in protecting against this threat. Even basic water, hygiene and toilets -which could mean a community well within a 15-minute walk, a household toilet and soap and water to wash hands with - would bring returns of up to 21 times their cost. Reaching the levels of access defined by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals could unlock huge sums globally every year: 1.Toilets where waste is safely managed - US$86 billion 2.Somewhere to wash hands with soap and water - US$45 billion 3.Tap at home- US$37billion "Water and sanitation have been sidelined for far too long, their value overlooked, trapping millions in poverty," said Tim Wainwright, WaterAid's Chief Executive. "But this research demonstrates that it's an extremely cost-effective investment." Central to this is the transformative impact of investment in basic water services on women and girls. Providing even just a community water pump or well could give women in developing countries the equivalent of 77 million working days per year that they currently spend collecting water and a tap in every house would free-up 122 million working days annually.
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