Urban Water Disinfection and Mortality Decline in Lower-Income Countries

Historically, improvements in municipal water quality led to substantial mortality decline today’s wealthy countries. However, disinfection has not consistently produced large benefits lower-income We study this issue by analyzing a large-scale program Mexico that increased chlorination coverage urban areas from 58 percent over 90 within 18 months. estimate the reduced childhood diarrheal disease rates 45 67 percent. inadequate sanitation infrastructure and age (degradation) of pipes may have attenuated these substantially. (JEL I12, I18, L95, O13, O18, Q25, Q53)