Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Accessible and clean water is an essential aspect of the world we want to live in.
Our planet has enough drinking water to achieve this goal. But due to poor infrastructure or economic mismanagement, every year millions of people, most of them children, die from diseases caused by inadequate water supplies, sanitation and hygiene levels.
Water scarcity and poor quality, coupled with inadequate sanitation systems, negatively impact food security, livelihood choices and educational opportunities for poor families around the world. Drought hits some of the world's poorest countries, aggravating hunger and malnutrition.
By 2050, at least one in four people are likely to experience long-term or recurring shortages of safe drinking water.
Facts and figures
- Since 1990, 2.6 billion more people have had access to better drinking water resources, but 663 million people still lack it
- At least 1.8 billion people globally use excreta-contaminated sources of drinking water
- Between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of the world's population using better sources of drinking water rose from 76 to 91%
- However, water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population, a percentage which is expected to increase. Over 1.7 billion people live in river basins where water use exceeds its regeneration
- 2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation such as toilets or latrines
- More than 80% of wastewater from human activities is discharged into rivers or seas without purification systems
- Every day, around 1000 children die from preventable diarrheal diseases related to water and sanitation
- Hydropower is the most important and most used source of renewable energy; in 2011, it accounted for 16% of total world electricity production
- Approximately 70% of water abstracted from rivers, lakes and aqueducts is used for irrigation
- Floods and other water-related disasters are responsible for the 70% of deaths from natural disasters.
Achievements
6.1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.2 By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and sanitation for all and end open defecation, paying particular attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by eliminating landfills, reducing pollution and the release of hazardous chemicals and wastes, halving the amount of untreated wastewater, and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water use efficiency in all sectors and ensure sustainable supplies and supplies of safe drinking water, to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people affected by it
6.5 By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation, as appropriate
6.6 Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, groundwater and lakes by 2030
6.a By 2030, expand international cooperation and support to establish water and sanitation-related activities and programs in developing countries, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, treatment of wastewater and recycling and reuse technologies
6.b Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
