Correct Option
The correct option is (c).
Explanation
Sanitation involves the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human urine and feces. The management of sanitation is intrinsically linked to the quality of drinking water and the prevention of environmental pollution. Inadequate sanitation systems facilitate the transmission of pathogens and the contamination of natural resources.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. Poor sanitation has a direct and significant correlation with the quality of drinking water. Untreated sewage and open defecation often contaminate groundwater aquifers and surface water bodies, which are primary sources of drinking water. This contamination introduces pathogens causing diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.
- Statement 2 is Correct. A significant portion of the population in developing regions continues to practice open defecation. This practice is a major health hazard as it exposes the community to fecal-oral transmission of diseases, vectors like flies, and environmental contamination.
- Statement 3 is Correct. Untreated human excreta is a primary source of organic and biological pollution. When left untreated, it leaches into the soil, altering its composition and introducing harmful bacteria (Soil Pollution). Simultaneously, surface runoff carries this waste into water bodies, leading to eutrophication and pathogen spread (Water Pollution).
Key Takeaway: Improper disposal of human excreta is a dual pollutant, affecting both soil integrity and water quality, thereby serving as a critical vector for waterborne diseases.