The 2nd Annual World Portable Sanitation Day (WPSD) is on August 15, 2015. Here in the United States, it’s easy to forget how important adequate sanitation is to basic human health and the health of the overall community. However the rest of the world is not always afforded such luxuries. The World Health Organization estimates that 2.6 billion people worldwide – about a third of the world’s population – lack basic access to adequate sanitation services. In addition, about 200 million people per year are victims of disasters during which access to existing sanitation is impaired.

Impacts from Poor Sanitation

Lack of adequate sanitation causes privacy, safety, and health issues. Inadequate sanitation often leads to the contamination of water supplies and negates the advantages of pouring of billions of dollars in aid into poor countries.

A Solution to Water Conservation

As parts of the globe (including the United States) are facing severe droughts, solutions that use less water are an essential part of coping with water shortages. In some parts of the world, portable toilets may be the only practical answer. Sewer systems rely on water and infrastructure, which can both be very limited. Sustainable sanitation solutions are needed and the portable sanitation industry can play an integral role in addressing some of the biggest challenges currently facing the world’s citizens.

Benefits of Portable Sanitation

Portable sanitation provided by knowledgeable operators has been a proven means of safely handling and treating human waste for over 70 years. Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI), an organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of human health, estimates that portable sanitation operations are already saving an estimated 125 million gallons of fresh water daily – nearly 46 billion gallons per year – while preventing the spread of communicable diseases and the contamination of fresh water. In addition, most of the products the industry uses are environmentally friendly – its wastewater is recycled and solid waste is often applied in fields to nourish the land and fertilize crops. It also protects the environment, improves public health, and preserves human dignity.

Word Portable Sanitation Day (WPSD)

Honey Bucket is a leader in the Portable Sanitation Association International and the World Portable Sanitation Day is part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness and promote change by engaging people locally to promote access to sustainable sanitation worldwide. Over time, it is the goal of WPSD advocates to transform the public’s interest and ingenuity into local solutions that prevent the spread of disease, save water, and improve the quality of life of people and the sustainability of our planet.

Honey Bucket is proud to support WPSD and the PSAI. We join others in our industry in spreading awareness of the importance and great need for increased portable sanitation availability throughout the world. We are working together to help communities better understand how options such as portable sanitation can be part of a sustainable global sanitation solution.

Watch the WPSD video here.