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A new global sanitary revolution: lessons from the past
The nineteenth century sanitary revolution that occurred in Britain and the industrializing world has several
valuable lessons for the similar revolution that is now needed to enable 40% or more of the world’s population
to access improved sanitary facilities and services. These include the time needed to bring about significant
change and resulting health improvements; the role of both private and public sectors and individual and
collective action; an understanding of motivation for behaviour change and the necessary expenditure;
emphasis on the excreta-related nature of much disease commonly termed ‘water-related’; and consideration
of a range of affordable solutions, from dry technologies to sewers, each being appropriate in the right
socio-economic circumstances. Above all, a new group of sanitary heroes, comparable to Chadwick and
Bazalgette, is needed to give impetus to a 21st century revolution