Water and Sanitation Systems in Peri-Urban Communities in Freetown : WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE SYSTEMS AT KROO BAY AND SUSAN'S BAY COMMUNITIES IN FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE

Water is a precious resource and vital for life, without it life could not be sustained. Access to safe and affordable supply of drinking water is universally recognized as a basic human need for the present generation and a pre-condition for the development and care of the next. Water is also a fundamental economic resource on which people's livelihood depends. Despite the importance of water and sanitation to mankind, it is but sad to note that about 2.4 billion people globally live under highly unsanitary condition with lack of adequate water supply.Even where available, it is unfit for domestic consumption thus running the risk of incidence and the spread of infectious diseases. Studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) have shown that 2.2 million people die of basic hygiene related diseases, like diarrhea every year.The greater majority are children in developing countries. It is very certain that the health of every community depends highly on clean and safe water supply, which is used for domestic purposes coupled with the general sanitary and hygienic conditions.