A safe water supply and adequate sanitation services are essential aspects for good health conditions in any community. With healthy sanitation conditions, the quality of life, efficiency of productivity, and sustainability of human development are increased. Without access to safe water and sanitation, environmentally related diseases can flourish. GIS provides the platform that enables the sanitation agencies of cities, communities, and countries to provide the best service they can to their citizens.

GIS technology helps research scientists and planners make crucial decisions and manage the sanitation systems throughout a community. Using GIS, city utility services can run routine maintenance inspections of manholes, sewer lines, and operation facilities. Once the city finds damaged lines and other areas in need of repair, the information is logged and action is planned, ensuring the city's waste management is environmentally safe and operating efficiently.

Expanding communities also depend on GIS to provide service to new areas. Planners project the needs and levels of service for new developments by assessing land features, water and sanitation schemes, neighboring settlements, and demographic data. Similar processes are used with GIS to set up sanitation services around the world, particularly in poor rural areas where such services have not been available.

For more information, visit www.esri.com/water.