Sanitation and Wastewater Management

Providing sustainable and effective rural sanitation first requires stimulating demand (and thus resources) for sanitation at all levels, from the private household to the national budget. Supply-driven approaches to building more toilets have often been ineffective, as they can waste resources building sanitation facilities that are unwanted, inappropriate, and unused. When community members have committed their own time, effort, and resources to establishing improved water and sanitation systems, they are more committed to maintaining and sustaining their investments. For basic sanitation, public funds are allocated to the promotion and stimulation of demand for sanitation and for pro poor subsidies when needed. Additional public financing for sewage networks, drainage, and wastewater treatment is warranted, as they produce benefits for society as a whole, as well as better services to households.

Providing sustainable and effective urban sanitation services require public institutions responsible for planning, monitoring and regulating a service provider that is responsible for providing, operating and maintaining the service and its physical infrastructure. The needed physical infrastructure for urban areas can include both on-site household sanitation for treating and disposing of wastewater and  a public sewerage system (local sewer networks, trunk and interceptor sewers and pumping stations) and sewage and sludge treatment and disposal and re-use facilities.

A significant percentage of World Bank financing in sanitation goes towards assisting large urban areas and small towns with improvements in their sanitation and wastewater management related infrastructure. These are complemented by support to sector reform and strengthening of service providers and in the development of policies, norms and standards to ensure that investments are effective and sustainable.   

In some countries, the World Bank and its clients are shifting away from financing "subsidies for rural sanitation facilities" and moving towards a strategy of funding "sanitation promotion and leveraging resources". While the need for and role of infrastructure subsidies must be locally determined, the general trend is towards leveraging household and community resources for sanitation. Examples demonstrating success in this approach can be found in countries as diverse as India,  Lesotho, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Burkina Faso.

The World Bank pays special attention to providing sanitation facilities at schools and other public buildings. In most developing countries, the sanitary and hygienic conditions at schools are appalling, characterized by the absence of properly functioning water supply, sanitation, and handwashing facilities. Hygiene, sanitation, and water in schools projects can create an enabling learning environment that contributes to children's improved health, welfare, and learning performance.