Constraints and opportunities in providing water and sanitation to spontaneous settlements

Large rural-to-urban migration rates in developing countries occur as industrial growth and decreasing prices for agricultural products force inhabitants to seek employment in urban areas. These spontaneous settlements in the heart of, or on the fringes of large cities are often characterized by lack of city services, high birthrates, illegal and often dangerous housing, poor hygienic conditions, and other limiting factors. Often food, education and shelter are seen as more important than clean water and sanitation, and government institutions are more often than not, highly mistrusted. Among the solutions discussed in the paper to improve the living conditions, are community participation projects and low-cost appropriate technologies, but these are difficult to administrate due to the lack of time and lack of capital of the inhabitants.