For decades, the global sanitation crisis has been framed as a matter of pipes, toilets, and treatment plants. But in reality, the greatest challenge lies not in building new systems, but in making sure they actually work for the people who rely on them. That is where regulation comes in, and until now, it has been the weakest link in the chain.
A recent paper in PLOS Water makes the case that active regulation of onsite sanitation, systems that operate outside traditional sewer networks, is the game-changer the sector has been missing. The authors argue that without regulators stepping beyond paperwork and into practical engagement, the lofty goals of safe, inclusive sanitation will remain out of reach.
The problem with “passive” oversight
In much of the world, sanitation regulation has been treated as a box-ticking exercise. Governments issue policies, ministries release guidelines, and agencies publish standards. But too often, those documents collect dust while communities continue to rely on unsafe pits or poorly managed septic systems.
This “passive” approach does not just fall short; it leaves millions exposed to health risks. With climate change intensifying floods and droughts, weak oversight becomes a public health hazard, making communities more vulnerable to disease outbreaks and environmental contamination.
A shift in mindset
Across Eastern and Southern Africa, a different story is emerging. Regulators in countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Zambia are beginning to take a hands-on role. Instead of waiting for utilities and service providers to interpret policies, they are stepping in to set clear performance expectations, monitor progress, and create incentives for innovation.
This proactive stance is transforming how sanitation is delivered. Regulators are convening stakeholders who rarely sit at the same table, public health authorities, municipal leaders, utilities, and private service operators. They are providing training, setting up monitoring systems, and even tapping into regional networks for peer learning. In doing so, they are not just enforcing rules; they are shaping an environment where safe, affordable sanitation becomes possible at scale.
The roadmap to better regulation
One of the most promising outcomes of this shift is the creation of a global Roadmap for Advancing Sanitation Regulation. Developed through consultations with regulators worldwide, the roadmap lays out six key steps, from clarifying institutional roles to building accountability mechanisms, which can help countries move from aspiration to action.
The power of this roadmap lies in its practicality. It recognises that sanitation is messy, both literally and institutionally. Solutions must adapt to diverse contexts, urban and rural, rich and poor, sewered and non-sewered. Active regulation provides the missing structure that allows these solutions to function together, rather than in isolation.
More than infrastructure
Sanitation has long been framed as an infrastructure challenge, but infrastructure alone does not deliver safety or dignity. Toilets without oversight can become health hazards; treatment plants without enforcement can sit idle. Regulation is the connective tissue that makes investments meaningful, ensuring that what is built serves the people it is meant to.
The shift toward active regulation signals a broader truth: sanitation is not just an engineering problem, but a governance challenge. And governance, when it works, saves lives.
You can read more on this in the article titled: Active regulating of onsite sanitation can bridge the gap between policy and practice and transform the sector. The article was authored by Sam Drabble, Claire Grisaffi, Batsi Majuru, Yvonne Magawa, and Robert Gakubia, published on September 3, 2025, and is available at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000414.