Rio and the Water Crisis

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/29/opinion/rio-and-the-water-crisis.html

Version 0 of 1.

To the Editor:

Re “A Toxic Stew Awaits Olympians” (Sports pages, July 27):

That the world’s top athletes are preparing to compete in the heavily contaminated waters of Brazil for the Olympics is unacceptable. That any people should have to face the serious health consequences of sewage-contaminated water is unacceptable, be they world-class athletes or the residents of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas who endure a life without clean water, toilets or hygiene every day.

Brazil is not alone in facing a water and sanitation crisis of epic proportions. One in three people globally live without improved sanitation, an issue at the heart of Rio’s water crisis.

These Olympics have brought attention to one of the most urgent, solvable crises of our time. Last year, world leaders stepped up to adopt the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including safe water and sanitation for everyone, everywhere, by 2030. The challenge now is to translate awareness and ambition into action.

SARINA PRABASI

New York

The writer is the chief executive of WaterAid America.