İnformation on Sustainable Development Goals
Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all



Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in. There is sufficient fresh water on the planet to achieve this. But due to bad economics or poor infrastructure, every year millions of people, most of them children, die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.

Water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation negatively impact food security, livelihood choices and educational opportunities for poor families across the world. Drought afflicts some of the world’s poorest countries, worsening hunger and malnutrition.

By 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water.


Source: United Nations, www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/


  • 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 hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
  • 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.
  • 6.4. 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.
  • 6.5. By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
  • 6.6. By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
  • 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.b. Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.
  • 6.1.1 Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
  • 6.2.1 Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water
  • 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
  • 6.4.1 Change in water-use efficiency over time
  • 6.4.2 Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
  • 6.5.1 Degree of integrated water resources management
  • 6.5.2 Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
  • 6.6.1 Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
  • 6.a.1 Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
  • 6.b.1 Countries that have effective policies and procedures that identify and involve users/communities in water resource management