Estonia has approximately 17,000 households that continue to use dry toilets, despite the availability of modern sewage systems in many areas. While most residents have access to public water and sewage systems, roughly one in ten households remains reliant on dry toilets. This situation highlights a significant portion of the population that has not adopted available resources for improved sanitation.

The Environmental Investment Centre has been involved in supporting the renewal and construction of public water systems since the early 2000s, with nearly 275 million euros invested in water management projects. According to Vahur Tarkmees, project manager for the water services reform, approximately 85 percent of the population currently has access to public water and sewage systems. However, there is still substantial work needed in rural areas, where infrastructure improvements and new connections are necessary to serve smaller settlements effectively.

Despite the presence of connection points for water and sewage systems at property boundaries, many households have not taken advantage of these opportunities. Tarkmees mentioned that there are about 200,000 connection points available, yet a significant number of households do not utilize them, indicating a potential gap in awareness or willingness to adopt modern sanitation solutions. This situation underscores the need for targeted education and outreach to encourage residents to transition to public utilities for cleaner and more efficient waste management.