Definition of Clean Water and Sanitation
Clean water is internationally defined as water that is safe for human consumption and domestic use, which must be free from hazardous levels of microbial, chemical, and radiological contamination. Specifically, safely managed drinking water is sourced from improved water supplies located on premises, available when needed, and free from microbiological (e.g., E. coli) and priority chemical contaminants such as arsenic and fluoride. The water should be physically accessible, affordable, and meet standards for taste and odor as established by the World Health Organization’s Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.
Sanitation, on the other hand, refers to the safe management of human excreta and associated hygiene practices to prevent human contact with fecal matter. Adequate sanitation systems are defined by their ability to provide safe, private, and accessible facilities for all users, ensuring hygienic separation of excreta from human and animal contact. The system must capture, contain, treat, and safely dispose of or reuse excreta either on site or after transport to a treatment facility, and it should be suitable for people of different ages, genders, and abilities while upholding privacy and dignity.
Countries with the Worst Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
The lowest levels of access to clean water and sanitation are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, along with some countries in Asia and Oceania. For instance, Chad and the Central African Republic stand out with only about 6% of their populations having access to safely managed drinking water. Other countries facing severe water insecurity include Niger, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Uganda, Angola, Mozambique, Haiti, and Malawi. In Papua New Guinea, only 40% of the population has access to safe drinking water, and around 18% to adequate sanitation. Ethiopia, despite some urban improvements, has rural regions where only about 42% of people have a clean and reliable water source, and only 11% have sufficient sanitation facilities. In these countries, over half of the population may have to walk more than 30 minutes to reach any water source, and millions rely on unimproved or contaminated water.
Living Conditions and Coping Mechanisms in Contexts of Poor Water and Sanitation
People living in countries with inadequate clean water and sanitation face harsh daily realities that impact health, productivity, education, and social well-being. A typical day for many involves hours spent walking long distances to collect water—often unsafe—from rivers, ponds, or hand-dug wells. This burden primarily falls on women and girls, limiting their time for school, work, or other productive activities. The water collected is frequently contaminated, leading to a high incidence of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid, with children under five being most vulnerable.
Sanitation is often non-existent or unimproved, resulting in open defecation or use of shared, unhygienic latrines. This exposes communities to frequent outbreaks of enteric diseases, perpetuates malnutrition, stunting in children, and contributes to high mortality rates. In the absence of proper facilities, social stigma, lack of privacy, and increased risks of violence—especially for women and girls—are daily concerns.
To cope, households commonly store and reuse water, harvest rainwater when possible, share or borrow water from neighbors, purchase costly water from vendors, or use water substitutes, all of which carry varying degrees of risk and stress. Makeshift strategies, such as building rudimentary latrines, practicing water purification when possible, or organizing community efforts to protect water points, are widespread but are severely constrained by poverty and environmental factors.
Vital Importance of Clean Water and Sanitation for Life
Clean water and sanitation are absolutely essential for survival, health, and human dignity. Access to safe water prevents numerous infectious diseases, dramatically reducing mortality rates—especially among children—and improving nutrition and overall resilience. Improved sanitation breaks the cycle of fecal-oral transmission of pathogens, curtails the spread of debilitating and fatal illnesses, and supports mental well-being, privacy, and personal security.
From a societal perspective, clean water and sanitation are foundational for economic development, educational attainment (by freeing up time and supporting school attendance), gender equality, and environmental sustainability. Inadequate WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) leads to fewer life opportunities, perpetuates cycles of poverty, and hinders entire countries from progressing toward sustainable development.
Most Pressing Issues Faced in These Countries
Among the most critical issues in countries lacking adequate water and sanitation are:
High disease burden: Frequent outbreaks of waterborne and sanitation-related diseases cause high rates of illness and death, especially from diarrheal diseases among children under five.
Malnutrition and stunting: Poor WASH causes recurrent illness, leading to malnutrition and impaired childhood growth.
Time poverty: The daily search for water consumes hours, limiting other life opportunities, especially for women and children.
Poverty and economic stagnation: Medical costs, lost productivity, and inability to focus on income-generating activities trap communities in cycles of poverty.
Education disruption: Children, especially girls, are often kept from school to collect water or due to lack of menstrual hygiene facilities.
Gender inequality and safety: Women and girls face increased risks of gender-based violence and lack privacy, dignity, and safety due to absent or insecure water and sanitation facilities.
Environmental degradation: Water scarcity is exacerbated by overuse, contamination, and climate change impacts in already fragile environments.
Social and psychological stress: Chronic worry, stigma, and embarrassment about hygiene, privacy, and lack of basic services undermine psychosocial well-being.
Key United Nations Institutions Active in Clean Water and Sanitation
UN-Water
UN-Water is the United Nations’ coordinating mechanism on freshwater and sanitation matters, supporting global policy, data harmonization, and technical guidance to member states. It brings together over 30 UN organizations and provides the backbone for SDG 6 monitoring and implementation through initiatives such as the Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 (IMI-SDG6).
UNICEF
UNICEF operates in over 100 countries, working to improve access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for children and communities. It is a co-custodian of global monitoring of SDG 6 indicators—including safely managed drinking water, sanitation, and handwashing facilities—supports infrastructure projects in schools and health centers, and promotes hygiene behavior change.
WHO
The World Health Organization sets health-based water and sanitation standards, monitors public health risks, and provides technical and policy guidance to governments, especially for preventing disease outbreaks and improving WASH in healthcare facilities.
UNDP
The United Nations Development Programme integrates water governance into broader sustainable development agendas, builds capacity for water resource management, and supports countries in policy development, climate change resilience, and poverty reduction strategies linked to water and sanitation access.
UN-Habitat
UN-Habitat focuses on urban water and sanitation systems, working to improve infrastructure, policy, and community participation in rapidly growing urban and peri-urban communities, which often face severe WASH challenges.
UNHCR
The UN Refugee Agency ensures water, sanitation, and hygiene access for refugees and displaced populations, deploying emergency WASH solutions in humanitarian crises.
UNEP, FAO, UNESCO, and Others
These agencies further support integrated water resource management, environmental protection, educational campaigns, and ecosystem rehabilitation linked to SDG 6.
How UN Agencies Support the Targets of SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
United Nations institutions coordinate a range of activities and policy interventions to support SDG 6, which aspires to ensure universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and adequate sanitation by 2030. Their work includes:
Data collection and monitoring: The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) provides the main global database on water and sanitation, supporting evidence-based policymaking.
Technical and financial assistance: Agencies finance and advise on water infrastructure projects, sanitation facility construction, and hygiene program delivery in countries most in need.
Policy and standards development: WHO sets global guidelines; UNDP, UNICEF, and UN-Habitat support national governments in developing laws and strategies to accelerate SDG 6 progress.
Capacity-building: Training for government and community actors, strengthening local management systems, and supporting knowledge sharing to scale best practices.
Promotion of innovation and sustainable solutions: Agencies integrate climate adaptation, new technologies, and sustainable water-use practices to build resilience and scalability.
Addressing equity and leaving no one behind: UN programs prioritize reaching vulnerable, marginalized, and remote populations—women, children, refugees, and the disabled—to close equity gaps.
Through coordinated global and national action, these institutions harness the combined expertise, funding, and political will necessary to address the immense challenges of water and sanitation scarcity and to accelerate progress toward achieving clean water and sanitation for all.
UN Institutions Supporting SDG 6
UN-Water Global coordination, data, policy harmonization Monitoring (IMI-SDG6), advocacy, technical guidance
UNICEF Child-focused WASH, infrastructure, hygiene education Service delivery, data, behavioral campaigns, equity initiatives
WHO Health standards, disease prevention Water safety standards, health surveillance, policy advice
UNDP Governance, resilience, capacity building Policy support, capacity, water strategy integration
UN-Habitat Urban WASH infrastructure and management Urban water/sanitation, planning, community engagement
UNHCR Refugee and crisis WASH response Emergency water/sanitation in camps
UNEP, FAO, UNESCO Ecosystem, agriculture, education Resource management, sustainability education
By aligning their specialized mandates and resources, these agencies play a pivotal role in driving progress toward SDG 6, ensuring that the fundamental human rights to clean water and sanitation become a global reality.
