The costs of meeting the 2030 sustainable development goal targets on drinking water sanitation, and hygiene

A goal dedicated to clean water and sanitation was recently endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework for 2015–2030 that has followed the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene form a central part of the clean water and sanitation goal (SDG 6) and are reflected especially in targets 6.1 to 6.3. They are also recognized for their role in reducing health risks as part of the good health and well-being goal (SDG 3) in targets 3.3 and 3.9. This study assesses the global costs of meeting the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related targets of SDG 6. It is intended to serve as a vital input to determining the financing needs to achieve them. Two targets are assessed: (1) achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all (target 6.1); and (2) achieving access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and ending open defecation (target 6.2). Thus this study presents only a partial analysis of the clean water and sanitation goal, but it can serve as a basis for cost studies of other targets.