Clean at the source isn't safe in the glass
Global access to water sources has improved, but 2.1 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water due to contamination during collection and storage. Quality, rather than just proximity, remains the primary barrier to universal safe water access.
Why it matters
Understanding that 'improved' water sources do not guarantee safety is critical for public health policy and international development goals.
The world has made remarkable progress in expanding access to drinking water over the past 20 years.
Yet 2.1 billion people, roughly one quarter of the world’s population, still lack safely managed drinking water.
Access to a water source does not necessarily mean that the water people drink is safe.
Water can become contaminated during the process of collection, storage, or use.
As a result, even water that is safe at the source may not be safe by the time it reaches the glass.
The Atlas of Global Development 2026 explores this challenge and highlights how water quality remains one of the most difficult barriers to achieving universal access to safely managed drinking water.
The chart above illustrates a shift in global drinking water access since 2000.
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