The great challenge of the 20^th century - access to drinking water and sanitation - is like no other issue.

It is one of the underlying factors that enable local communities to grow both in developing as well as in developed countries.

The success of numerous other factors which can improve living conditions centers around it. Conservation of natural resources, the fight against poverty and hunger and against illnesses related to the drinking of unclean water all depend on it.

Maternal and infant mortality can be reduced; women can really be empowered and education can be promoted through having access to drinking water and sanitation.

Water deserves that we take action on its behalf, as it is at the heart of the most important issues of global sustainable development.

Since 2004, the Moroccan Ministry of Health, Veolia Environnement's Research and Development Department and Amendis, Veolia Environnement's subsidiary in Morocco, have been working together on a research program. Its aim is to measure the impact on health from the development of water and wastewater facilities installed by Amendis in the city and suburbs of Tangiers.

Health indicators (diarrhea among children under 5 years old, conjunctivitis and skin diseases) are assessed by doctors in 15 health centers and 2 city hospitals. In addition, surveys with 70 families in 2 pilot districts as well as microbiological analyses on the water and sand from the bay have been carried out.

Preliminary results are very encouraging. First and foremost, they show a considerable reduction in the contamination of water stored in homes along with a major reduction in the number of cases of infant diarrhea and skin diseases in one of the 2 pilot districts of Tangiers.

Other results regarding the impact on health from the sanitation system in the Bay of Tangiers and from the expansion of the drinking water system are expected in due course.