What Is World Toilet Day?

World Toilet Day, in conjunction with World Portable Sanitation Day on November 19, is about taking action to reach the 2.4 billion people living without a toilet and inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. The theme of World Toilet Day 2017 is ‘wastewater,’ focusing on how proper sanitation allows for proper wastewater treatment and the safe reuse of recycled water.

To learn more about why proper wastewater treatment is important to the overall sanitation crisis, please visit UN Water.

Sanitation is a global development priority. The Sustainable Development Goals, launched in 2015, aim to ensure everyone everywhere has access to toilets by 2030.

Toilets play a crucial role in creating a strong economy, as well as improving health and protecting people’s safety and dignity, particularly that of women and girls.

The UN and its partners are getting the message out that toilets save lives, increase productivity, create jobs, and grow economies.

To take action and join the global movement, please go to www.worldtoiletday.info.

It is important to note that portable sanitation plays a key role in this overarching initiative. Portable restroom units provide an important option when the structural requirements for indoor restrooms are not available or water is in short supply. It is for this reason that the Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI) has moved their World Portable Sanitation Day celebration to November 19 in the hopes of aligning portable sanitation awareness with global sanitation awareness.

Key facts:

• 2.4 billion people live without improved sanitation. – World Health Organization (WHO)/UNICEF 2015.

• 1 in 10 people has no choice but to defecate in the open. – WHO/UNICEF 2015.

• Diarrhea caused by poor sanitation and unsafe water kills 315,000 children every year. – WAS-Hwatch 2016.

• Disease transmission at work mostly caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices causes 17% of all workplace deaths. – International Labour Organization (ILO) 2003.

• Loss of productivity due to illnesses caused by lack of sanitation and poor hygiene practices is estimated to cost many countries up to 5% of GDP. – Hutton 2012.

Join United Site Services in celebrating World Toilet Day and World Portable Sanitation Day on November 19 in your own communities by raising awareness for the global sanitation crisis. Now that you have received this message, we encourage you to consider passing it on to your network!

Together we can keep the conversation going.