SDG 6: ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE
Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene is a fundamental human need critical for health and well-being.
- As the global population grows and urbanizes, and as water demand increases from agriculture, industry, and energy sectors, achieving universal access to these services by 2030 requires substantial progress.
- Without accelerated efforts, billions will still lack these basic services by 2030.
GOAL 6 TARGETS
- 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, with 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, minimizing the 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 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 programs, 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.
CURRENT SITUATION
- Water Demand vs. Population Growth: Water demand has outpaced population growth. Half of the world’s population experiences severe water scarcity for at least one month each year. This issue is expected to worsen due to rising global temperatures and climate change.
- Recent Progress: Between 2015 and 2022, access to safely managed drinking water increased from 69% to 73%.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene is a human right. Effective strategies to ensure universal access include:
- Increasing sector-wide investment and capacity-building
- Promoting innovation and evidence-based action
- Enhancing cross-sectoral coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders
- Adopting a more integrated and holistic approach to water management
Water is important not only for health but also for poverty reduction, food security, peace, human rights, ecosystems, and education.
CHALLENGES
In 2022:
- 2.22 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water, with 703 million lacking even a basic water service.
- 3.55 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation, including 1.5 billion without basic sanitation services.
- 2 billion people lacked a basic hand washing facility, with 653 million having no hand washing facility at all.
Water Management Impact:
- Sustainable water management improves food production, energy efficiency, economic growth, and ecosystem preservation.
- Effective water management also aids in addressing climate change.
Link Between Water and Climate Change:
- Water availability is increasingly unpredictable, with droughts exacerbating water scarcity in many regions.
- Sustainable water and sanitation services are critical for climate change mitigation.
SOME FACTS & FIGURES
- Universal Coverage Targets: Achieving universal coverage by 2030 requires a sixfold increase for drinking water, a fivefold increase for sanitation, and a threefold increase for hygiene.
- Water Use Efficiency: Increased by 9% but water stress remains high. In 2020, 2.4 billion people lived in water-stressed countries.
- Freshwater Availability: Only 0.5% of Earth’s water is useable and available freshwater.
- Global Urban Population: Projected to face water scarcity, increasing from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7–2.4 billion by 2050.
- Surface Water Changes: One in five river basins shows high fluctuations in surface water levels over the past five years.
- Water Pollution: Continues to be a significant challenge to human health and the environment.
SDG & INDIA
- Objective: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
- Targets by 2030:
- Universal access to safe and affordable drinking water.
- Access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene facilities.
- Improve water quality by reducing pollution.
- Increase water-use efficiency across all sectors.
- Protect and restore water-related ecosystems.
SDG 6 INDEX SCORE
- States: Ranges from 60 to 100.
- Union Territories (UTs): Ranges from 73 to 100.
- Top Performers:
- States: Goa (100)
- UTs: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (100)
- Front Runners: 26 States and 7 UTs.
- Performers: 1 State.
- Aspirants: No States/UTs.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Access to Piped Water Supply
- Current Coverage (May 2024): 75.75% of rural households.
- Target (Jal Jeevan Mission): 100% coverage by 2024.
- Top Achievers: 8 States and 3 UTs have 100% coverage. Lowest Coverage: West Bengal (46.64%).
- Access to Improved Sources of Drinking Water
- Current Coverage (April 2024):99.29% of rural households.
- Top Achievers: 14 States and 6 UTs with 100% coverage.
- Lowest Coverage: Assam (93.17%).
- Individual Household Toilets (Rural)
- Status: All States and UTs have met the targets for individual household toilets.
- Open Defecation Free (ODF) Districts
- Status: All districts verified as ODF as of 2022.
- Schools with Functional Girls’ Toilets
- National Average:94.7%.
- Top Performers:
- States: Goa (100%).
- UTs: Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep, Puducherry (100%).
- Lowest Coverage: Arunachal Pradesh (68.8%).
- Stage of Groundwater Extraction
- National Average:59.26% (within the ‘safe’ limit).
- Best Performer: Arunachal Pradesh (0.42% extraction).
- Over-Extraction States/UTs:
- States: Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
- Worst Performer: Punjab (163.76%).
- Over-Exploited Blocks
- Current Status (2023):11.23% of blocks/mandals/talukas over-exploited.
- Target: Reduce to zero.
- Top Performers: 15 States and 5 UTs have achieved the target.
- Worst Performers:
- State: Punjab (76.47% over-exploited blocks).
- UT: Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (100% over-exploited).
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