clining availability, falling water tables or quality reductions. Information in this area needs improving, as it is SO vital for the economic stability of some of the largest countries in the world (Gleick, 2004). Over-extraction of groundwater can lead to saline intrusion from adjacent coastal waters, or other naturally or human-contaminated water. There are other problems, such as in Bangladesh, where 22 million people risk being poisoned by naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater. In these areas there may be no alternative but to consume polluted water as there are no other affordable sources, although alternatives are being sought such as direct rainwater harvesting. Arsenic is a more widespread problem in groundwaters and has recently been reported in sources used for supply in Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and China (SAHRA, 2006; Stedman, 2006). 3. Overview of trends in water demand and infrastructure Introduction It is apparent that the world is, or will soon be, facing an unprecedented challenge when it comes to water services (see this chapter's Endnote Profile). In part this is due to population growth, but it is also caused by expectations, new demands and climate uncertainty. The recognition that the poorest and those without adequate access to water and sanitation should be appropriately serviced has grown over the last two decades, and is challenging future management and delivery of water-related services. To address the issue, the international community has established Millennium Development Goals against which to gauge investment and progress (UNDP 2000). Target 10, within MDG 7 to "Ensure environmental sustainability", is: "to halve by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water." While this target may be both feasible and on track, it is five times less ambitious than the notion of universal access; even when "average" progress meets this target "the situation for disadvantaged groups is in fact stagnant or deteriorating" INFRASTRUCTURE TO 2030: TELECOM, LAND 