This report describes the status and trends with respect to the use of safe drinking water and basic sanitation and progress made towards the MDG drinking water and sanitation target. As the world approaches 2015, it becomes increasingly important to identify those who are left behind and to focus on the challenges of addressing their needs. This report therefore shows disparities: the gap between progress in providing access to drinking water versus sanitation; the divide between urban and rural populations in terms of the services provided; differences in the way different regions are perfor