To What Degree Can Potable Water Foster International Economic Development and Sustainability? What Role Does Health Play?

Governments, international organizations, and practitioners have long proclaimed that investments in potable water supply and sanitation and improvements in public health lead to economic development in the developing world. Unfortunately, scholars have not been able to quantify these relationships for a plethora of reasons. This study found significant, positive relationships between investments in integrated projects of potable water supply combined with sanitation and public health and economic development. The study also moderately supported the hypothesis that the relationship between investments in such projects and economic development is stronger in the presence of better health. The article concludes with hopes that the strength of the findings could encourage greater international investment to promote rural sustainability. In particular, the findings buoy calls for supporting indigenous organizations based in rural areas with integrated methodologies that encourage consciousness-level raising in addition to addressing the pressing needs of potable water and basic sanitation