Water is at the heart of sustainable development. It is essential for socio-economic development, energy and food production, the health of ecosystems, and human survival. Water is also central to climate change adaptation, serving as the link between society and the environment. Water is also a matter of rights. As the world's population grows, the need to balance all commercial demands for water resources increases, ensuring that communities have access to sufficient water. Women and girls, in particular, should have access to safe and clean sanitation facilities that guarantee their safety and dignity when dealing with biological female issues such as menstruation and motherhood. At the human level, water cannot be considered in isolation from sanitation. Together, they are vital factors in reducing the global burden of disease, as well as in improving the health, education, and economic productivity of populations. One of the most significant recent milestones was the UN General Assembly's recognition of the human right to adequate water for personal and domestic use (between 50 and 100 liters per person per day), provided that the water is safe, affordable (the cost of water should not exceed 3% of total household income), and accessible both geographically (no more than 1,000 meters from the home) and temporally (within 30 minutes of the time required to access it). Water and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Sustainable Development Goal 6 aims to “ensure the availability and access to water and sanitation for all.” The targets of this goal encompass all aspects of water and sanitation systems, and achieving these targets will contribute to progress on a range of other SDGs, particularly those related to health, education, the economy, and the environment. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) – Contaminated water and the lack of basic sanitation facilities undermine efforts to end extreme poverty and disease in the world’s poorest countries. Currently, 2.3 billion people worldwide lack access to sanitation facilities such as toilets. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1.7 billion people drink water that is not protected from feces. Even more drink water supplied through systems that lack adequate protection against health hazards. Unclean Water and Child Mortality- Unclean water and poor sanitation are the leading cause of child mortality. Childhood diarrhea is closely linked to inadequate water supplies, insufficient sanitation facilities, water contaminated with infectious diseases, and poor hygiene practices. Diarrhea is estimated to cause 1 million deaths annually, and more than 25% of these deaths—a total of 273,000—are among children under the age of five, most of whom live in developing countries. Improved Sanitation and Economic Benefits- The links between poor access to water and sanitation and development goals are clear, and solutions to the problem are known and cost-effective. A 2012 World Health Organization study showed that every US dollar invested in improving sanitation translates to an average global economic return of US$5.5. These benefits are felt most acutely by poor children and in disadvantaged communities where they are most needed. Celebrating Water Resources- Each year, two international days related to water and sanitation are celebrated: World Water Day (March 22) and World Toilet Day (November 19). Each day features an awareness campaign to raise global awareness of related issues and draw attention to the theme, inspiring action. Over the years, World Water Day and World Toilet Day have addressed a variety of topics, including health, culture, jobs, food, energy, disasters, and peace. In 2026, both events will focus on a campaign highlighting the crucial role of water and sanitation in promoting gender equality.