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. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

What does SDG 6 cover?

SDG 6 is about more than providing taps and toilets. It brings together access, public health and the protection of water resources. Its targets include achieving universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, ending open defecation, improving hygiene and reducing water pollution. It also calls for more efficient water use, better wastewater treatment and the protection of rivers, lakes, wetlands and other water-related ecosystems.

The goal recognises that these issues are closely connected. Without safe sanitation, human waste can pollute water supplies. Without reliable water, people may be unable to maintain good hygiene. And without careful management, communities, farms and businesses can place unsustainable pressure on freshwater supplies.

Why progress matters

Reliable water and sanitation are fundamental to human dignity and wellbeing. Safe water helps prevent disease, while toilets and good hygiene protect health at home, in schools and in healthcare settings. These services also support education and economic opportunity. When water is difficult to collect, the time and effort involved can limit people’s ability to study, work or care for their families.

Access is not only a question of infrastructure. Water services must be safe, affordable, available when needed and accessible to everyone, including people living in remote areas and those facing poverty or discrimination. In many places, responsibility for collecting water still falls disproportionately on women and girls.

Growing pressures on water

Water systems face increasing pressure from population growth, urbanisation, pollution and changing patterns of rainfall. Climate change can make water supplies less predictable, intensifying droughts in some areas and increasing the risk of floods in others. These pressures can damage infrastructure, contaminate supplies and deepen inequalities between communities.

Water quality is also a concern. Untreated wastewater, agricultural run-off, industrial pollution and poorly managed waste can harm human health and ecosystems. Protecting water therefore requires action across entire catchments, from the places where water is collected to the rivers and seas into which it eventually flows.

What sustainable water management looks like

Sustainable water management combines practical services with long-term care for natural resources. It can include repairing leaks, using water more efficiently in homes and industry, treating wastewater before it is released, and reusing treated water where appropriate. Protecting wetlands and restoring riverbanks can help support biodiversity and improve the resilience of natural systems.

Good planning also depends on reliable information and cooperation. Rivers and aquifers often cross administrative or national borders, so decisions made in one place can affect people elsewhere. Governments, water providers, businesses, communities and environmental organisations all have a role in managing water fairly and responsibly.

How communities and individuals can contribute

Large-scale progress depends on investment, effective public services and strong environmental protections. Individuals and local groups can also support SDG 6 by avoiding the disposal of medicines, oils and chemicals down drains; reducing unnecessary water use; reporting leaks; and taking part in local river or beach clean-ups. Schools and community organisations can help raise awareness of water conservation, sanitation and hygiene.

These actions are most effective when they complement, rather than replace, well-funded public infrastructure and accountable water management. Access to safe water and sanitation should not depend on a person’s income or postcode.

A shared responsibility

SDG 6 sets an ambitious vision: a world where everyone can access safe water and sanitation, and where water resources are managed in ways that protect people and nature. Achieving it requires sustained investment, inclusive decision-making and cooperation across sectors and borders.

Water connects health, equality, livelihoods and the natural environment. Progress on SDG 6 is therefore not an isolated goal; it is an essential part of building healthier, fairer and more resilient societies.

 

Six Simple Tips for Clean Water and Sanitation

1. Turn off taps while brushing your teeth.
2. Fix leaks promptly to save water.
3. Choose a short shower over a bath.
4. Never pour oil or chemicals down drains.
5. Use water-saving settings on appliances.
6. Support projects that improve clean water and sanitation.

Turn off taps while brushing your teeth.

Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth is a simple way to avoid wasting drinking water. A running tap can use more water than you need, so wet your brush, turn the tap off while you brush, and switch it back on to rinse. Small habits like this can help conserve water at home and support the wider aims of SDG 6: clean water and sanitation for all.

Fix leaks promptly to save water.

Fixing leaks promptly is a simple way to save water at home, at work and in public buildings. Even a small drip can waste a surprising amount over time, while a leaking pipe may lose much more and cause damage. Check taps, toilets and visible pipes regularly, and report leaks to the relevant maintenance team or water provider so they can be repaired quickly. Reducing this waste helps protect local water supplies and supports SDG 6: clean water and sanitation for all.

Choose a short shower over a bath.

Choosing a short shower instead of a bath can help reduce the amount of water used at home and support the aims of SDG 6: clean water and sanitation for all. Showers can still use a lot of water if they run for a long time, so keep yours brief and turn it off while you lather or shampoo. Small everyday changes like this can help conserve water when practised alongside wider efforts to manage water resources sustainably.

Never pour oil or chemicals down drains.

Never pour oil, paint, medicines or household chemicals down drains. These substances can pollute rivers and groundwater, harm wildlife and disrupt wastewater treatment. Let cooking oil cool, then place it in a sealed container for disposal, and take hazardous chemicals to an approved collection point. Small actions like these help protect clean water for people and nature, supporting Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Use water-saving settings on appliances.

Choose water-saving settings on appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers to reduce water use without compromising everyday cleaning. Run full loads where practical, and check the appliance’s manual to find its most efficient cycle. Small choices like these can help conserve local water supplies and support SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

Support projects that improve clean water and sanitation.

Support projects that improve clean water and sanitation by backing local initiatives that provide safe drinking water, build and maintain toilets, improve hygiene facilities and protect water sources. You could volunteer, donate to a trusted organisation or help raise awareness in your community. Choose projects that work with local people and plan for the long term, so facilities remain safe, accessible and reliable for everyone.