Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6 or Global Goal 6) declares the importance of achieving “clean water and sanitation for all”. It is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly to succeed the former Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). According to the United Nations, the overall goal is to: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” The goal has eight targets to be achieved by 2030 covering the main areas of water supply and sanitation and sustainable water resource management. Progress toward the targets will be measured by using eleven indicators.
Water is the foundation of life and livelihood. Sufficient quantity and quality of fresh water is essential for healthy life, poverty reduction, food security, peace and human rights, ecosystems, and education. Though access to water, sanitation and hygiene has been declared as a human right, yet billions still face daily challenges of accessing even the most basic of services. Around 1.8 billion people globally use a source of drinking water that is focally contaminated. Some 2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets or latrines.
Globally, there has been a 55% drop in water available per capita since 1960, and currently, more than 40% of the world’s population is affected by water scarcity. With population growth, there will be increase in water scarcity, water pollution, degradation of water-dependent ecosystems and cooperation and conflicts over trans-boundary water basins. Scientists believe that with climate change and extreme weather events, many more countries will be at a risk of being in water crisis. It is estimated that two-thirds of the world’s population will live in areas of high-water stress by 2025.
To cater to these needs, SDG 6 or the “water and sanitation sustainable development goal “was launched. It states, “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” Thus SDG 6 encompasses two human rights, those of “universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water” and “access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all”. It calls for increasing water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. It also calls for reducing waste and recycling as much water as possible.
The six key outcome targets to be achieved by 2030 include:
- Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all,
- Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations,
- Improve water quality, by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater (wastewater treatment) and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally,
- Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of fresh water to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity,
- Implement integrated water resources management (IWRM), at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate,
- Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
The two means of implementing targets are to expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries, and to support local engagement in sustainable and participatory water and sanitation management.
Despite Official development assistance (ODA) disbursements to the water sector increasing to $9 billion in 2018. the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) of WHO and UNICEF reported in 2017 that 4.5 billion people still did not have safely managed sanitation. In 2017 only 71 per cent of the global population used safely managed drinking water, and 2.2 billion persons were still without safely managed drinking water. Other water-related hazards related to flooding and drought also remain significant threats to human development and wellbeing.
Like the others, this Sustainable Development Goal is closely interwoven with the other SDGs. For example, access to clean water will improve health and wellbeing, leading to a progress in SDG3; and better health leads to a higher school attendance, progressing SDG 4, improving quality education. Achieving SDG6 can only happen if other SDGs are also achieved.
Background
The United Nations (UN) has determined that access to clean water and sanitation facilities is a fundamental human right. However, only a few countries have written the human right to water into enforceable legislation creating serious problems for people wishing to use legal means to promote better access. Even in those countries, such as South Africa, with a clear constitutional commitment to the human right to water and sanitation it has proven difficult to obtain legal redress.
A review of the progress by the UN in 2020 found that “increasing donor commitments to the water sector will remain crucial to make progress towards Goal 6”. In 2022, the OECD estimated that to achieve SDG 6, current global spending on water needs approximately $1 trillion per year.
| Targets | Indicator(s) |
|---|---|
| 6.1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all | 6.1.1 Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services |
| 6.2 By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations | 6.2.1 Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water |
| 6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally | 6.3.1 Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated 6.3.2 Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality |
| 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity | 6.4.1 Change in water-use efficiency over time 6.4.2 Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources |
| 6.5 By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate | 6.5.1 Degree of integrated water resources management 6.5.2 Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation |
| 6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes | 6.6.1 Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time |
| 6.a By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies | 6.a.1 Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government- coordinated spending plan |
| 6.b Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management | 6.b.1 Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management |
Custodian agencies
Custodian agencies are in charge of reporting on the following indicators:
- Indicator 6.1.1 and 6.2.1: Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP). The JMP is a joint program of UNICEF and WHO and compiles data to monitor the progress of Target 6.1 and Target 6.2.
- Indicator 6.3.1: UN-Habitat and WHO
- Indicator 6.3.2: Global Environment Monitoring System for Fresh water (GEMS/Water), International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change (UNESCO-IHP); Federal Institute of Hydrology, Germany; University College Cork, Ireland
- Indicators 6.4.1 and 6.4.2: FAOSTAT – AQUASTAT
- Indicator 6.5.1: United Nations Environment Programme-DHI Centre
- Indicator 6.5.2: UNECE and UNESCO-IHP
- Indicator 6.6.1: United Nations Environment Programme, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
- Indicators 6.a.1 and 6.b.1: UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS)
Links with other SDGs
The SDGs are highly interdependent. Therefore, the provision of clean water and sanitation for all is a precursor to achieving many of the other SDGs. WASH experts have stated that without progress on Goal 6, the other goals and targets cannot be achieved.
For example, sanitation improvements can lead to more jobs (SDG 8) which would also lead to economic growth. SDG 6 progress improves health (SDG 3) and social justice (SDG 16). Recovering the resources embedded in excreta and wastewater (like nutrients, water, and energy) contributes to achieving SDG 12 (sustainable consumption and production) and SDG 2 (end hunger). Ensuring adequate sanitation and wastewater management along the entire value chain in cities contributes to SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 1 (no poverty). Sanitation systems with a resource recovery and reuse focus are getting increased attention. They can contribute to achieving at least fourteen of the SDGs, especially in an urban context.
SDG 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation, is foundational to achieving many other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by improving public health (SDG 3), supporting quality education (SDG 4), advancing gender equality (SDG 5), fostering responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and maintaining healthy ecosystems (SDG 15). Without progress on SDG 6, the overall success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is jeopardized, highlighting its essential role in creating a sustainable future.
Since sustainable use and access to water encompasses a myriad of developmental goals, SDG 6 can be linked to other SDGs of 2030. For example, sustained water resource management is the key to preventing and managing water-related disasters (SDG target 11.5), supporting agriculture (SDG 2), and securing energy needs as the world’s population continues to rise (SDG 7). Since women and girls are disproportionately affected in regions of water scarcity where they spend time and energy to fetch water, adequate access to affordable safe water is intrinsically linked to issues of gender equality (SDG 5) and education (SDG 4). As water-related ecosystems underpin most of the Earth’s natural processes, their protection and restoration have explicit linkages to the health of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15). Other Goals/Targets linked to water scarcity in the 2030 Agenda include climate change (SDG 13), resilient infrastructure (9.1, 9.4), sustainable cities (1lA, 1lB, and 11.5), sustainable consumption (12.2), inclusive societies (16.1, 16B) and global partnerships (17.6, 17.7, 17.8). While increasing water and sanitation access reduces poverty and has positive linkages with health and education outcomes, agricultural activities (SDG 2) and energy services (SDG 7) may have negative impacts on ambient water quality and ecosystems.
Key Linkages between SDG 6 and Other SDGs:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Access to safe water and sanitation directly improves health outcomes by preventing waterborne diseases, contributing to overall public health and well-being.
- SDG 4: Quality Education: Improved health and reduced sanitation-related burdens allow children, especially girls, to attend school consistently, leading to better educational opportunities.
- SDG 5: Gender Equality: Safe and accessible sanitation services, including those for women and girls, reduce the time spent collecting water and mitigate risks associated with inadequate facilities, thereby promoting gender equality.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: SDG 6 contributes to sustainable urban development by ensuring access to clean water and managing wastewater effectively, though urbanization can also put pressure on water resources.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Sustainable water management is crucial for industries and agriculture, ensuring that water resources are used efficiently and that pollution from production is minimized.
- SDG 15: Life on Land: Protecting water-related ecosystems, such as rivers and wetlands, is a core part of SDG 6 and is essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability, directly linking it to SDG 15.
Why SDG 6 is so Interconnected:
Interdependence: The success of SDG 6 depends on actions taken in other SDGs (e.g., managing water-intensive industries in SDG 9 and controlling pollution in SDG 12), and its successful achievement enables broader progress across the 2030 Agenda.
Foundation for Development: Water and sanitation are fundamental human needs and essential for socio-economic progress.
Cross-Cutting Nature: Progress in SDG 6 supports progress in numerous other goals related to human well-being, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
Organizations
The Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) has made it its mission to help achieve Targets 6.2 and 6.3. Global organizations such as Oxfam, UNICEF, WaterAid and many small NGOs as well as universities, research centers, private enterprises, government-owned entities etc. are all part of SuSanA and are dedicated to achieving SDG 6.
SDG 6 and Achievements in India
India’s water resources are under immense pressure, as it supports 17% of the global population, with only 4% of the global water resources. India’s per capita water availability has touched the water-stressed benchmarks and is expected to decline further towards water-scarce conditions by 2050. India ranked 13thamong the world’s 17 ‘extremely water-stressed’ countries. Deterioration of water quality (surface and groundwater) due to unplanned urbanization and untreated or partially treated industrial effluent discharged, improperly managed landfills, poor sanitation and other pollution sources like fertilizers and pesticides from the agricultural sector is an area of grave concern.
The schemes implemented by the Government of India to cater to the needs of SDG 6 include the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign), the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, and Namami Gange (River Ganga Conservation) Programme. In rural India, the toilet coverage improved from 40% in 2014 to near-universal coverage in 5 years of implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Over 10.5 crore (105 million) toilets were constructed, and more than 60 crore (600 million) people transformed their open defecation behaviour. India’s phenomenal achievement immensely contributed to reducing global open defecation as the rate of decrease in India has been over 12 percentage points a year between 2015 and 2019. Another programme called the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ programme under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) launched for India’s water sector in 2019 and expected to provide access to clean water through functional tap water connections for 100% of rural households in India by 2024. India has achieved UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (MDG 2000- 2015) in the water sector by 2015 and improved its performance in the sanitation sector by 2019. Majority of the Indian states are soon nearing universal access to an improved source of drinking water. 71.3% and about 96.2% of households in rural and urban areas have access to household latrines, respectively. The continuing programmes in water and sanitation sectors will help India in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) for safe and universal water access and improved sanitation.
Fresh, clean, and safe water is an essential requirement of sustainable development. Nevertheless, there are many challenges to achieve the targets of SDG 6. Expansion of government programmes and increase in budgetary provisions for this collaboration, and financial management are required to install some water services like taps, toilets, boreholes and safe recycling, reusing.
Many countries in the Global South lack data to adequately monitor changes in drinking water and sanitation for assessing progress in SDG 6. According to UN-Water, only 20 % of the UN Member States have reported on the water quality indicators over the last five years, and information collected on water related ecosystems is currently insufficient to under-stand regional changes in ecosystem quality.
Water availability is also becoming less predictable in many places. In some regions, droughts are exacerbating water scar-city and thereby negatively impacting people’s health and productivity and threatening sustain-able development and biodiversity worldwide. Without better infrastructure and management, millions of people will continue to die every year from water related diseases such as malaria and diarrhea, and there will be further losses in biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, under-mining prosperity and efforts towards a more sustainable future.
Putting SDG 6 into action requires horizontal and vertical policy coherence, and the ability of institutions to make evidence-based decisions and build, implement and enforce inter-related policies. Countries must define the costs and benefits of achieving each SDG 6 target, and align the national finance system to SDG targets, in an inclusive and green economy.
FOR MORE DETAIL DISCUSSION ON SDG 6 – CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION, LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE ON ‘RESEARCH WITH NJ’.
Naman Jain 