November 2020
Key Findings:
–A sample of more than 200 countries and territories analyzed by the author reveals a strong negative relationship between access to electricity and mortality from waterborne illnesses.
–Sub-Saharan Africa—the world’s most broadly energy-poor region—also has the countries with the highest rates anywhere globally of death per capita from unsafe water.
–Water for human consumption (as well as other uses) embeds an often underappreciated quantity of energy.
–As an example, every 1,000 gallons of groundwater supplies used in the City of San Antonio embeds an estimated 12 kWh, nearly the energy storage capacity of a Tesla Powerwall (14 kWh).
Exhibit 1: Global Relationship Between Electricity Access and Water-Related Mortality
Source: CIA World Factbook, World Bank, Author’s Analysis
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