Save Our Planet - Goal #6

Goal #6 - Clean water and sanitation

What is the problem?

It is essential that everyone has access to water, and we all have enough fresh water to achieve this. Sadly, due to poor infrastructure or bad economics, millions of people including children die every year due to diseases associated with inadequate water supply, hygiene, and sanitation.

The stats

Inadequate sanitation, water scarcity, and poor water quality have a big negative impact on food security, educational opportunities for poor families and livelihood choices for people all over the world. Today, there are more than two billion people living with the risk of reduced access to freshwater resources. By 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water. Drought specifically causes some of the world's poorest countries, worsening malnutrition and hunger. Fortunately, there has been lots of progress made in the past decade regarding sanitation and drinking sources.

Progress and solutions

Fortunately, there has been lots of progress made in the past decade regarding sanitation and drinking sources. Over 90% of the world's population now has access to improved sources of drinking water. In order to raise sanitation and access to drinking water, there must be more investments in the management of sanitation facilities and freshwater ecosystems on a local level in several developing countries within Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Asia, Southern Asia, and South-Eastern Asia.

How we can help

By 2030, we need to improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. By 2030, we also need to 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 who suffer from water scarcity. By 2020, we must protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes. In order to create larger access to drinking water, and sanitation, there needs the be a bigger investment in the management of freshwater ecosystems and sanitation facilities on a local level in several developing countries like Central Asia, Southern Asia, Eastern Asia, South-Eastern Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.