SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for All
Water is essential to life, health, food production and thriving communities. Yet safe drinking water and adequate sanitation are still out of reach for many people around the world. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to change this by ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
What does SDG 6 cover?
SDG 6 is about more than providing drinking water. It brings together a range of issues that are closely connected, including:
- Access to safe and affordable drinking water
- Sanitation and hygiene, including an end to open defecation
- Improving water quality and reducing pollution
- Using water more efficiently across homes, farms and industry
- Managing water resources sustainably
- Protecting rivers, lakes, wetlands and other water-related ecosystems
The goal also recognises the importance of international cooperation and local communities in managing water resources.
Why clean water matters
Safe water and sanitation are fundamental to human health and dignity. Without them, people face a greater risk of waterborne disease, while a lack of private, safe sanitation can affect personal safety and wellbeing. These challenges often fall hardest on women and girls, who may carry the responsibility for collecting water or face barriers to attending school and work.
Water is also vital for food and energy production, healthy ecosystems and economic development. When water is polluted, scarce or poorly managed, the effects can spread through entire communities and economies. Climate change adds further pressure by increasing the likelihood of droughts, floods and unpredictable rainfall in many regions.
Challenges on the road to 2030
Progress towards SDG 6 is uneven. Some communities lack infrastructure such as pipes, wells and treatment facilities. Others have water systems that are unreliable, unaffordable or vulnerable to pollution. In rural areas, distance and limited investment can make services difficult to provide. In towns and cities, rapid growth can place heavy demands on existing supplies and sanitation systems.
Water resources also cross national and regional borders. This means that planning, sharing information and working together are essential, particularly where communities depend on the same rivers or aquifers.
How progress can be made
Achieving SDG 6 requires investment in reliable water and sanitation services, alongside careful protection of the natural systems that provide and filter water. This includes treating wastewater, preventing pollution, repairing leaks and adopting water-efficient practices in agriculture and industry.
Good planning should involve the people who use and manage water locally. Communities need a say in decisions that affect their access, while governments, businesses and civil society can contribute funding, expertise and accountability. Education and public awareness also help people understand how to conserve water and protect local water sources.
What individuals and organisations can do
Individuals can help by avoiding unnecessary water use, disposing of chemicals and medicines safely, and supporting initiatives that improve access to clean water and sanitation. Organisations can review how much water they use, reduce pollution in their operations and support responsible water management throughout their supply chains.
These actions cannot replace strong public services or investment, but they can contribute to wider change when combined with effective policies and community-led solutions.
A shared responsibility
SDG 6 sets out a clear ambition: everyone should have access to safe water and sanitation, and water resources should be managed in a way that protects people and nature. Reaching that ambition by 2030 will require sustained commitment, cooperation and investment. Clean water is not only a basic need; it is a foundation for health, equality and sustainable development.
Six Simple Ways to Support SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Turn off taps while brushing your teeth.
- Fix dripping taps and leaking pipes.
- Take shorter showers to save water.
- Use a reusable bottle instead of buying bottled water.
- Keep rubbish and chemicals out of drains and waterways.
- Support projects that provide safe water and sanitation.
Turn off taps while brushing your teeth.
Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth is a simple way to help conserve water and support Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. A running tap can waste a surprising amount of water, even during a short brushing session. Wet your toothbrush, turn off the tap while brushing, then switch it back on to rinse. Small daily habits like this can make a difference when practised by many people.
Fix dripping taps and leaking pipes.
Fixing dripping taps and leaking pipes is a simple way to reduce water waste at home, work or school. Even a small, steady drip can add up over time, putting unnecessary pressure on local water supplies and increasing water bills. Check taps, toilets and visible pipework regularly, and arrange repairs as soon as a leak is spotted. Small actions like these support SDG 6 by helping conserve water and encouraging its more sustainable use.
Take shorter showers to save water.
Taking shorter showers is a simple way to help conserve water. Even trimming a few minutes from your usual shower can reduce the amount of water used each day, easing pressure on local supplies and cutting the energy needed to heat water. Try setting a timer or turning the shower off while you lather, and encourage others in your household to do the same.
Use a reusable bottle instead of buying bottled water.
Choose a reusable bottle instead of buying bottled water. Refilling it with safe tap water can help reduce single-use plastic waste and the resources needed to make and transport disposable bottles. It’s a simple everyday habit that supports more sustainable water use.
Keep rubbish and chemicals out of drains and waterways.
Keeping rubbish and chemicals out of drains and waterways helps protect rivers, lakes and the wildlife that depends on them. Litter, oils, paints, medicines and household cleaning products can pollute water and harm people, animals and ecosystems. Dispose of waste responsibly, follow local guidance for hazardous products, and never pour chemicals down a drain or into a street drain. Small everyday choices can help keep water cleaner for everyone.
Support projects that provide safe water and sanitation.
Support projects that provide safe water and sanitation by donating to trusted organisations, volunteering your time or helping to raise awareness in your community. These initiatives can build wells, improve toilets and handwashing facilities, and maintain local water systems. Before contributing, find out how a project works with local people and plans to keep its services safe and reliable over the long term.