Water, health and decisions: the impact of extreme weather

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6 states that every person on earth should have access to water and sanitation, whereas SDG #3 stipulates good health and well-being for all at all ages. Both goals are clearly interrelated, as positive WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) conditions can promote human health.

However, different regions and populations worldwide experience different water and health situations. To complicate matters, human behaviour is also a determining factor. Health and water security are connected in many ways, and data on these topics can contribute to informed decision-making and interventions. This is all the more important since local perspectives are often disconnected from the decisions that central authorities take.

A broad perspective 

The above has been the starting point for a group of researchers working on Water, Health and Decisions, a research domain under GeoHealth. Led by ITC Assistant Professor Carmen Anthonj, the group studies water and health challenges from a broad perspective. Besides investigating water-related infrastructure – such as provision of safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene – the researchers look at water-related knowledge and behaviour, and how resulting health challenges, such as water-related infectious disease exposure, can be prevented. A focus is on how to use water- and health-related related knowledge, information and data to inform improved health-promoting decision-making and interventions.

Research areas 

The group’s research areas include:

1. Water, health and climate/extreme weather (e.g. the impact of flooding on the accessibility and functionality of WASH and health infrastructure, and on physical, mental and social health outcomes)

2. Water, health and inequality (e.g. variations in access to safe WASH in space and time, and among different population groups)

3. Water, health and education (e.g. the importance of water-and health-related knowledge for health promotion, and the provision of safe WASH in schools)

4. Water and wellbeing (e.g. what role do water-related services play to promote health and well-being)

Studies on the impact of extreme weather events

One major focus is set on water, health and extreme weather, a topic that is especially visible and urgent to be addressed in this time of increasingly frequent and extensive extreme weather events. Major floods, heatwaves and tropical cyclones may have detrimental effects on the overall health and security of population groups, particularly those who are most disadvantaged and marginalized. Extreme weather events may also threaten healthcare and health-promoting WASH infrastructure, as well as mental and social health and well-being. Below are a few examples of studies conducted in this area.

Urban homelessness and effects of extreme weather events

Extreme weather events and their implications on health-promoting infrastructure challenge not only the Global South, but also vulnerable communities in the Global North, such as city dwellers experiencing homelessness.

Click here to ready the study "Invisible struggles: WASH insecurity and implications of extreme weather among urban homeless in high-income countries - A systematic scoping review".

Health consequences of flooding

Flood events are increasing in their frequency, unpredictability and severity globally, with many different consequences for human health. Flood-related breakdown of health and WASH infrastructure increases exposure to water-related health risks and diseases while reducing access to healthcare and treatment opportunities.

Click here to ready the study "The impact of flooding on people living with HIV: a case study from the Ohangwena Region, Namibia".

Moreover, floods may result in adverse mental and social health effects, and reduced well-being, particularly among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged population groups.

Click here to read about the impact of floods on mental and social health of elderly. 

WASH infrastructure and extreme weather

Particularly in resource-poor settings at the frontline of climate change, such as the Pacific Islands, domestic sanitation infrastructure is highly vulnerable and little adaptable under extreme rainfall scenarios, drought and flooding. This situation leads to sewers overflowing, sanitation facilities being rendered unusable, and health risks being increased.

Click here to read the study "Urban and rural sanitation in the Solomon Islands: How resilient are these to extreme weather events?"

Conclusion

Considering the increasing frequency, intensity and unpredictability of extreme weather events, and evidence that extreme weather events significantly shape the daily experiences of the most disadvantaged population groups - particularly in cities - understanding these links between water and health insecurity, climate resilience and related vulnerabilities is more important than ever. The resulting recommendations offer an opportunity for climate-resilient and inclusive health-promoting planning and programming.

Click here to read an interview with Carmen Anthonj in U-Today.