Water and sanitation are pivotal elements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily encapsulated in SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). This goal seeks to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. This objective directly addresses the current global water crisis, where nearly 2.2 billion people live without access to safe water, and about 4.2 billion lack access to adequate sanitation.
By focusing on improving water quality, increasing water-use efficiency, implementing integrated water resources management at all levels, and protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems, SDG 6 addresses not only direct human needs but also the broader ecological health of the planet. Furthermore, efforts towards achieving SDG 6 indirectly promote several other SDGs.
For instance, water and sanitation are crucial to achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), as clean water and proper sanitation facilities reduce the spread of water-borne diseases and significantly lower child and maternal mortality rates. Likewise, they are foundational to SDG 4 (Quality Education), given that the provision of water and sanitation facilities in schools significantly impacts the attendance and performance of students, particularly for girls.
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) also intersects with water and sanitation, as sustainable and efficient water management is critical for agriculture, which remains the largest global water consumer. The necessity of water for food production and the potential impact of improved water management on crop yields and livestock health makes SDG 6 integral to achieving zero hunger.
SDG 6 contributes to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) as well. Access to clean water and sanitation can enhance economic productivity by reducing time spent gathering water, reducing healthcare costs due to water-related diseases, and even creating jobs in water and sanitation services sectors.
In terms of environmental impact, the sustainable management of water resources is essential for SDG 13 (Climate Action), as water is a key factor in managing climate change due to its role in agriculture and energy production.
Wajid Umar, Muhammad Zia ur Rehman, Muhammad Umair, Muhammad Ashar Ayub, Asif Naeem, Muhammad Rizwan, Husnain Zia, Rama Rao Karri,
Chapter 10 - Use of nanotechnology for wastewater treatment: potential applications, advantages, and limitations,
Editor(s): Janardhan Reddy Koduru, Rama Rao Karri, Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak, Erick R. Bandala,
In Micro and Nano Technologies,
Sustainable Nanotechnology for Environmental Remediation,
Elsevier,
2022,
Pages 223-272,
ISBN 978012824547
Sai Karthik Cheemalamarry, Vinayak Sharma, Yaddanapudi Varun, I. Sreedhar, Satyapaul A. Singh,
10 - Recent advances of nanotechnology in water remediation,
Editor(s): Noel Jacob Kaleekkal, Prasanna Kumar S. Mural, Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran,
In Micro and Nano Technologies,
Nano-Enabled Technologies for Water Remediation,
Elsevier,
2022,
Pages 311-333,
ISBN 9780323854450
World Toilet Day 2023: Making Every Flush Count for Sustainable Development
On World Toilet Day 2023, which falls on 19 November, SDG Resources aims to cast a spotlight on an issue that many often overlook – sanitation. As odd as it might sound to some, toilets are more than just a basic amenity; they're a symbol of a society's progress and commitment to ensuring the well-being of its inhabitants.
A Brief Introduction to World Toilet Day 2023
Water and Climate Change: Sustainable Development, Environmental and Policy Issues, Volume 1, 1 January 2022
Background: An alarming number of public health-care facilities in low-income and middle-income countries lack basic water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and waste management services. This study estimates the costs of achieving full coverage of basic WASH and waste services in existing public health facilities in the 46 UN designated least-developed countries (LDCs). Methods: In this modelling study, in-need facilities were quantified by combining published counts of public facilities with estimated basic WASH and waste service coverage.
