The percentage of the population with reasonable means of getting safe water- either treated surface water or clean untreated water from springs, wells, or protected boreholes.

This term identifies the estimated percentage of the population having access to improved drinking water sources, such as household connections, public standpipes, bore holes, protected dug wells, protected springs or rainwater collection. These sources tend to provide safer drinking water than unimproved sources, such as rivers, ponds or unprotected wells. Source: UNICEF/WHO