Waterborne diseases and sanitation – UGC NET Question

Waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid spread mainly through ingestion of water contaminated with human or animal waste. In crowded settlements, breaking this transmission route requires reliable access to microbiologically safe drinking water and effective removal and treatment of sewage. When these systems function together, they significantly reduce pathogen loads in the environment and improve public health outcomes.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because individual bottled water use by a few does not address community-wide contamination and is often unaffordable; it leaves systemic sanitation problems unsolved.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it tackles both the supply of safe water and the safe disposal of excreta, which is the foundation of modern public health engineering.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since storing wastewater in open containers creates breeding grounds for disease vectors and increases exposure risks.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because open defecation near water bodies directly contributes to faecal contamination and is a major cause of waterborne disease outbreaks.