SDG 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all SDG Indicator |
6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
1. Key features and metadata
Definition: This indicator monitors the proportion of the population using an improved drinking water source that is accessible on premises, available when needed and free from fecal and priority chemical contamination.
| Sub-indicator | Disaggregated by |
|---|---|
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SH_H2O_SAFE Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services, by urban/rural (%) |
Location (Urban/Rural |
Sources of information: Household surveys and censuses (from the National Statistical Office) remain the primary source of information, complemented by information on service levels collected from administrative sources and regulators.
Related SDG Indicators: All indicators under Goal 6 and more particularly 6.3.2 (Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality), 6.5.1 (Degree of integrated water resources management implementation), 6.b.1 (Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management), and 6.a.1 (Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan).
2. Data availability by region, SDG Global Database, as of 02 July 2025
3. Proposed disaggregation, links to policymaking and its impact
| Proposed disaggregation | Link to policymaking | Impact |
|---|---|---|
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Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services, by service level (%)(World Health Organization [WHO] andUnited Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF] 2023):
Applies to:
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This disaggregation tracks the distribution of drinking water to the population by order of increasing quality. This is critical information for monitoring whether a country is on track with the objective of access to adequate and equitable drinking water services for all, which is both fundamental for human development and a distinct human right recognized by the UN General Assembly in 2016(UNGA 2017b). It can point to the efforts engaged to fill the identified gaps, especially in responding to the needs of women, youth and vulnerable groups. This will require strong investments from governments as well as setting up adequate regulatory, institutional and funding frameworks. | Inadequate access to drinking water results in increasing inequalities and affects disproportionately women and girls, the poor and the most vulnerable populations (i.e. slums, people living with disabilities or in remote areas, indigenous peoples, and minorities). The distribution of drinking water of quality halts adverse health effects (e.g. dissemination of water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid and several parasitic infections, or acute respiratory infections stunting), promotes social inclusion (e.g. poverty, dignity or safety) and reduces the impact on the economy (i.e. the high costs of poor drinking water due to loss of life and healthcare expenditure) (WHO, UNICEF and World Bank [WB] 2022; UNICEF and WHO 2023). |
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Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services, by geographical location (%) (administrative unit to be determined by countries) Applies to:
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This disaggregation provides useful information to localize more precisely the gaps to be filled by countries to reach access to safe drinking water targets. It is key information for planning and implementing drinking water management strategies at local level and to monitor their human and socio-economic benefits. In most countries, responsibilities for drinking water supply, with related infrastructure development, maintenance operations and financing requirements, are devolved to the regional or local level. Water policies and project development need to be adapted locally with the participation of the population to ensure that investments are tailored to its day-to-day needs. It contributes to the UN Water Action Decade (UNGA 2017b) and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework(United Nations Water [UN-Water] 2020). | Water projects often compete locally with other alternative development priorities such as food security, energy, housing, E-communication or transport, and they also face poor management and a lack of durability. This is why it is essential to define, through participatory processes, clear water management responsibilities for local authorities and ensure they have sufficient resources and capacity to take on their responsibilities. In this way, water policies and project development can be adapted locally to the needs of the populationand investments can be tailored to facilitate access to safely managed drinking water services, resulting in better living conditions and fewer diseases(Catley-Carlson 2012). |
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Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services, by sex (%):
Applies to:
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This disaggregation provides decision-makers with an informed basis to track the gender divide regarding access to safely managed drinking water and to identify adequate interventions to reduce the gender disparities and impediments that women are facing, with a view to securing equitable access to water supply. Especially when women have primary responsibility to collect water. This disaggregation is aligned with to the UN Water Action Decade (UNGA 2017b) and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework (UN-Water 2020). |
In most societies, whendrinking-water services are not available on the premises, women have the primary responsibility for water collection. In addition to greater women engagement in water affairs and gender mainstreaming into both policymaking and operational decisions, the specific needs of womenand girls– like the hygienic management of menstrual cycles, preserving sufficient time for school attendance and learning or benefiting from business opportunities that water management can offer – should be better considered when planning for new water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects and services (UN-Water 2006; UNICEF and WHO 2023). There is increasing recognition that women need to be better involved in the management of water and sanitation. Their involvement in water utility management and water planning at national and local levels yields numerous benefits. These include innovation, more user-friendly projects and greater consumer satisfaction (WHO 2022a; UNICEF and WHO 2023). |
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Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services, by type of vulnerable populations and settings (%)(WHO and UNICEF 2021a; WHO 2022a):
Applies to:
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This disaggregation aims to highlight the access to drinking water of vulnerable populations, whom governments are committed not to leave behind. It is relevant information for decision-makers to prioritize and plan WASH investments in favour of underserved populations with a view to ensuring better equity in water service delivery. This disaggregation is aligned with the UN Water Action Decade(UNGA 2017b) and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework(UN-Water 2020). |
Ensuring access to safe drinking water for all requires national and local governments to identify and target specific measures for the communities with no or limited access to water. This may vary depending on the local circumstances and the specific needs of targeted groups. One key aspect of guaranteeing water access to all is affordability, notably through water tariff-setting. Several economic instruments are at the disposal of national and local policymakers to support water affordability and its related costs. These include preferential prices, water subsidies or tax reductions to households and water quotas free of charges. It is also essential that vulnerable groups participate in decisions related to water management programmes and investments to ensure their requirements are considered and voices heard(WHO 2022a). |