About the Authors

Robert Bain

rbain@unicef.org (RB); rbain@unc.edu (RB, alternate email); jbartram@unc.edu (JB)

Affiliation The Water Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America

Ryan Cronk

Affiliation The Water Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America

Jim Wright

Affiliation University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom

Hong Yang

Affiliation University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom

Tom Slaymaker

Affiliation WaterAid UK, London, United Kingdom

Jamie Bartram

rbain@unicef.org (RB); rbain@unc.edu (RB, alternate email); jbartram@unc.edu (JB)

Affiliation The Water Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America

Competing Interests

TS chairs the WHO/UNICEF JMP expert working group tasked with developing targets and indicators for enhanced global monitoring of drinking-water post-2015 which commissioned the systematic review to inform its deliberations. JB is a member of the expert working group and is an unpaid advisor to both WHO and UNICEF.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: RB RC JW HY TS JB. Performed the experiments: RB RC HY. Analyzed the data: RB RC. Wrote the first draft of the manuscript: RB. Contributed to the writing of the manuscript: RB RC JW HY TS JB. ICMJE criteria for authorship read and met: RB RC JW HY TS JB. Agree with manuscript results and conclusions: RB RC JW HY TS JB.