Great civilizations in world history have consistently found solutions for their water and sanitation needs. The civilizations of Mesopotamia, Crete, Egypt, India, China, Mesoamerica, Rome, and Athens all depended on institutional and technological breakthroughs in effective methods for meeting water and sanitation needs. Irrigation systems dependent on a reliable water supply enabled farmers to support growing populations as far back as 6500 B.C. Municipal water purification transformed by the use of chlorine as a disinfectant in the early 20th century prevented the deadly outbreaks of waterborne diseases that have killed millions of people. However, cholera and other water-borne diseases still claim millions of lives each year. This history of successes and failures demonstrates the need to continually transform traditional approaches to providing clean, drinking water and sanitation services in order to cope with evolving challenges and constraints including limited finances and the growing scarcity of clean water resources.
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