Billions still without clean water: how academic breakthroughs could change everything

Billions still without clean water: how academic breakthroughs could change everything | Photo: engin akyurt

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are foundational to human health, dignity, and sustainable development, directly underpinning the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): ensuring clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Despite notable progress, the global challenge remains daunting, with 2.2 billion people still lacking access to safely managed drinking water and 3.4 billion without adequate sanitation in 2024. Addressing this crisis is critical not only for health but also for reducing poverty, enhancing education, and fostering gender equality.

Academic research, particularly in low-cost, scalable water purification and community-based water management, is emerging as a pivotal force in bridging this gap, offering hope for sustainable solutions in a resource-constrained world.

Innovations in WASH: Academic leadership for global impact

Low-cost technologies and community empowerment

Recent reports from UN Geneva, released on 21 and 24 July 2025, highlight a decade of progress in global WASH access, with the proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water rising from 68% to 74% between 2015 and 2024. Yet, the scale of the challenge persists: 1.7 billion people lack basic hygiene services, and 646 million children are without hygiene facilities in schools, necessitating a fourfold increase in progress to meet 2030 targets.

Academic institutions are stepping into this breach, driving innovation in low-cost, scalable water purification technologies. For instance, solar-powered filtration systems, which harness renewable energy to purify water, are gaining traction as affordable solutions for remote communities. These systems reduce reliance on costly infrastructure and mitigate the environmental impact of traditional purification methods.

In Senegal, university-led initiatives are pioneering community-based water management systems, aligning with SDG 6’s emphasis on equitable access and sustainable resource management. These projects empower local communities to oversee water distribution and maintenance, fostering resilience and ownership. By integrating local knowledge with technical expertise, such initiatives address the unique challenges of water scarcity and contamination in sub-Saharan Africa, where 43% of countries lack adequate transboundary water cooperation. This decentralized approach reflects a broader global trend towards localized, community-driven WASH solutions, which are proving both cost-effective and sustainable.

The challenge of scaling solutions

Despite these advancements, scaling such innovations to benefit billions remains a formidable hurdle. The global SDG financing gap, estimated at $4 trillion, severely limits investment in WASH infrastructure. In low-income countries like Uganda, where water stress is low but only 17% of the population have access to safely managed drinking water, weak governance and underinvestment exacerbate the problem. Furthermore, only 56% of global domestic wastewater is safely treated, and data on industrial wastewater treatment is sparse, highlighting critical gaps in monitoring and implementation. Achieving universal WASH coverage by 2030 requires a sixfold increase in drinking water progress and a fivefold increase in sanitation efforts, necessitating robust cross-sectoral coordination and innovative financing models.

Academic research is addressing these challenges by exploring techno-economic feasibility and industrial adaptability. For example, anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technology, studied by researchers like Hongjun Lin and Jianrong Chen, offers energy-efficient wastewater treatment, potentially revolutionizing sewage management. Such innovations, however, require substantial investment to move from pilot projects to widespread adoption. The global community must prioritize funding for these technologies, alongside policies that integrate water management across sectors, to ensure no one is left behind.

The progress in WASH, driven by academic research and community-based initiatives, underscores the power of localized solutions in advancing SDG 6. Yet, the scale of the challenge demands urgent action. Governments, international organizations, and private sectors must collaborate to bridge the financing gap and scale innovative technologies. The success of projects in Senegal and beyond demonstrates that sustainable water management is achievable when communities are empowered and supported by evidence-based research.

For those eager to delve deeper, explore the UN-Water SDG 6 Progress Reports (https://www.unwater.org) for comprehensive data on global WASH advancements, or visit the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (https://washdata.org) for detailed insights into water and sanitation metrics. Engaging with these resources can inspire further action towards a world where clean water and sanitation are universal rights, not privileges.