Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene is essential for health and well-being, yet billions may still lack these basic services by 2030 without significant acceleration in progress. Rapid population growth, urbanization, and increased water demands from agriculture, industry, and energy are driving up water demand. Water scarcity already affects half of the global population for at least one month each year and is expected to worsen due to climate change.

To ensure universal access to safe drinking water by 2030, key actions include investing in infrastructure, improving sanitation facilities, protecting water-related ecosystems, and promoting hygiene education. Enhancing water-use efficiency is critical to reducing water stress.

Some progress has been made: from 2015 to 2022, access to safely managed drinking water increased globally from 69% to 73%. However, quadrupled efforts are needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals for water access.

Source: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/