Water is identified as one of the most important natural resources because it is viewed as key to prosperity and
wealth (Arbués et al 2003). The World Health Organization defines improved water source as one that is
protected from outside contamination (WHO/UNICEF, 2010). Although an increasing number of people have
access to improved water, rapid urban population growth in the Sub-Saharan African region has equally
increased the number of people without proper access to water (WHO/UNICEF, 2010). Data from the World
Health Organization (WHO) indicates that 87% of the world’s population, and 84% of the population living in
the developing world now use drinking water from safer and improved sources (WHO, 2010). Fifty-seven
percent of the world’s population also gets their drinking water from a piped connection that provides running
water in their homes or compound. However, in Sub-Saharan African, just 60% of the population uses improved
sources of drinking-water (WHO, 2010).