Water is the basis of all life forms, and access to clean and safe drinking water as well as adequate sanitation facilities is a fundamental human right. However, innumerable people, worldwide, still lack access to this vital natural resource. In fact, the sixth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6), framed by the United Nations as a salient part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, also aims on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of all the water resources available on Earth, as these are indeed indispensable for the existence of all living creatures inhabiting this planet! Therefore, this article focuses on the key role of SDG 6 in fostering progress towards achieving universal access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities, and how this goal is interrelated to further broader developmental goals.

What is SDG 6 and its Core Principles & Objectives?

This is the 6th Sustainable Development Goal, out of the total 17 SDGs, set up by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 to ensure that there’s an end to poverty and environmental pollution, assuring a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world by 2030! As WAE, or Water, Air & Energy is a completely sustainable manufacturing company following the principles of responsible or green manufacturing and devising latest technology-based water purification systems, drinking water machines, ROs, STPs, WTPs, etc, we shall exclusively deal with SDG-6 in this Article which highlights to improve the access to clean and safe potable water for all at affordable rates to improve the overall access to adequate supply of drinking water, sanitation and hygienic practices.

The SDG 6 basically consists of 8 targets that aim to address the different aspects of water and sanitation management. Among these, the following are of utmost significance:

• Access to Safe Drinking Water (Target 6.1): This targets that there’s an equal and affordable access to pure and safe drinking water for all.
• Access to Sanitation and Hygiene (Target 6.2): This ensures sufficient and proper sanitation facilities, with a focus on improving hygienic practices.
• Water Quality and Pollution Reduction (Target 6.3): This targets in improving the quality of water by reducing pollution, particularly the dumping of waste and minimizing plastic waste in water bodies, resulting in adversely affecting the aquatic organisms.
• Water-Use Efficiency (Target 6.4): This ensures sustainable extraction and supply of freshwater, considerably improving the usage of water across all sectors.
• Integrated Water Resources Management (Target 6.5): This goal targets in promoting water resources management at all levels, across the globe.
• Water-Related Ecosystems Protection (Target 6.6): This target helps in preserving and reviving water-related ecosystems such as rivers, lakes, wetlands, etc.

Therefore, all the above-mentioned targets of SDG 6 aim to address the availability of the vital water resources, and the required infrastructure to deliver proper sanitation services.

How can SD 6 deal with the Global Water Crisis and Challenges related to it?

Despite several efforts in this field, the world still remains far from achieving the required target of universal access to clean and sustainable drinking water solutions and sanitation practices. According to the UN, there are about 2.2 billion people, who lack access to clean drinking water, whereas there are around 4.2 billion, who live without proper sanitation facilities, today. These figures are quite alarming with far-reaching consequences, such as poor public health, poverty, etc. Hence, following the unique environmental policy of “Reduce, Recycle and Reuse” to minimize the quantity of waste we produce, each day, is the key to protect the environment from acute water shortages, massive water pollution, etc.

Health Impacts of Poor Sanitation, Water Crisis & Heavy Pollution

Poor and inadequate sanitation facilities, acute water crisis and unmanageable accumulation of waste in water bodies result in the spread of a number of diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, dysentery and various other water-borne diseases, particularly in children and the aged. Improper sanitation services and polluted water are also the key factors for huge economic losses in both the rural and urban sectors, paralyzing the industrial as well as the agricultural labourers, causing heavy losses in these sectors, which form the economic backbone of a country! Thus, drinking water should be 99.99% pure and safe using advanced technological methods to purify it at a large scale in industrial RO plants guaranteeing water at its best for all potable purposes!

Strategies to achieve SDG 6 and the Path Forward

To meet the targeted goals of SDG 6 by 2030, a collaborative and multi-faceted approach is required that involves the coordinated efforts of governments, the private sector, the civil society as well as the international organizations. The main strategies include:

 Adequate Investments in Technology & Infrastructure: Proper infrastructure and sustainable as well as hi-tech drinking water machines, such as ro water dispensers are a must to deliver cool, clean and safe drinking water to efficiently meet the hydration needs of all the people, particularly at commercial places where there are a number of individuals at a time in need of pure and safe water. Overall, investment in modern water treatment facilities, promoting sustainable sanitation systems and innovative and scientific technologies like water recycling, rainwater harvesting, and desalination are the need of the hour. Public-private partnerships can also play a salient role in this sector.
 Promoting Awareness Campaigns: Community awareness campaigns are always handy in achieving a change in people’s mindset. These campaigns help to promote water and waste retrofit solutions, proper sanitation services, and well-maintained hygiene practices that can lead to a more sustainable usage of water resources and improved public health outcomes. Empowering women and involving them in decision-making processes related to water management can also enhance the effectiveness of these programs, as they are born home-makers with an inbuilt nurturing characteristic, which is needed to save and use water wisely, as it’s one of the most valuable assets on Earth that is depleting fast!
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