Sustainable Development Goal 6 focuses on clean water and sanitation for all. It aims to ensure access to clean, safe drinking water and proper sanitation for everyone, everywhere by 2030. Key criteria include providing safe drinking water services to all, ensuring access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene facilities, and achieving universal and equitable access to affordable and equitable sanitation and hygiene. Sustainable development in this context aims to create resilient and safe living environments for everyone at all ages and to ensure universal access to basic health services without discrimination. Sustainable development in water and sanitation is crucial to building a sustainable and inclusive world for everyone globally. It promotes achieving social and housing improvements for all, particularly in disadvantaged and high-risk communities, in accessing clean water and good health.

Subgoal 6.1

    Achieve the goal of providing everyone with access to safe and affordable drinking water by the year 2030.

Subgoal 6.2

    Achieve the goal of providing everyone with access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene, and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women, girls, and those in vulnerable situations by the year 2030.

Subgoal 6.3

    Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally by 2030.

Subgoal 6.4

    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 by 2030.

Subgoal 6.5

    Implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate, by 2030.

Subgoal 6.6

    Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes by 2030.

Subgoal 6.A

    Expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programs, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, and recycling technologies.

Subgoal 6.B

    Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.