Access to Safe Water, 1989-95 Access to safe water is measured by the number of people who have a reasonable means of getting clean water, expressed as a percentage of the total population. It reflects the health of a country’s people and the country’s ability to collect, clean, and distribute water. Countries in which few people have access to safe water tend to be located in Africa and Asia. Countries in which most people have access to safe water tend to be located in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia and South America.