Collecting water from an improved water source

Water and sanitation This woman is collecting water at an improved water source in Lesotho. An improved water supply reduces diarrhoea incidence and mortality. It may reduce the ingestion of contaminated drinking water and facilitate personal and domestic hygiene as the quantity of water available is increased. Another advantage of piped water is that it reduces the time and energy women have to spend collecting water for household needs. Piped water must still be treated or boiled unless proved safe for drinking. Piped systems will often leak water out and may suck it back in again as the pressures change.