Would you be able to walk 3.7 miles every day and hold 40 pounds while doing so? For the average woman in rural Africa, that’s the daily burden of water collection. 

Today, 2 billion people lack access to safely managed water. In these cases, people—typically women and girls—must walk to gather water from the nearest stream or pond, sources that can be miles away and frequently contaminated. 

Little is more important for human health than clean water. But pumping, purifying, and distributing water requires another resource: energy. Providing access to energy lays the foundation for clean water access, and technologies like solar-powered water pumping provide a lifeline for remote, off-grid communities. 

Sustainable Development Goal 6 strives to achieve clean water and sanitation for all, and solar power can help us get there. 

An Overview of Goal 6 

Clean water is a life-changing investment for billions of people, and Sustainable Development Goal 6 is committed to leading global “access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene” by 2030. 

In the face of water scarcity, pollution, and inadequate sanitation facilities, Goal 6 calls for innovation and collaboration toward a more equitable water future. Here’s where we stand on several targets: 

• 703 million people lack basic access to water services, and 2.2 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water. 

• The latest data show that 494 million people practice open defecation. 

• 1.5 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets. 

• Nearly two thirds of the world’s population faces extreme water scarcity for at least one month each year. 

• More than 1,300 children under the age of five die every day from diseases linked to unsafe drinking water and poor hygiene. 

Clean energy can make Goal 6 a reality. Solar energy is abundant in countries that lack access to clean water and sanitation, such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Niger, and Papua New Guinea. By harnessing sunshine, a growing number of communities are experiencing the gift of a transformed future, one drop at a time. 

How does Solar Energy Achieve Clean Water and Sanitation? 

Electricity makes it possible to run the infrastructure responsible for delivering clean water and sanitation to the communities that need it most. Solar energy and clean water work together across several applications: 

• Water pumps. Solar-powered water pumps can eliminate water poverty. Traditionally, women and girls are responsible for water collection in communities that lack direct water access. This takes time and labor, and the water they find can still be unsafe to drink. Solar-powered water pumps are one solution. 

• Irrigation. For millions of people, clean water is a path out of hunger. Solar-powered irrigation systems can unlock a supply of water for crops that would otherwise rely on irregular rainfall to grow. This improves the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and contributes to a world that’s free from hunger. And for the 10% of the global population who consume food irrigated by wastewater, a source of clean, quality water can help reduce the spread of diseases and promote hygiene. 

• Toilets and sanitation systems. Electricity can power critical sanitation services and eliminate open defecation. And when handwashing stations—supplied with soap and running water—are provided, communities can live without the fear of contracting diarrheal diseases. In areas that are disconnected from the grid, solar-powered sanitation systems offer a reliable alternative. 

• Water purifiers. For those living in the remotest communities, solar-powered water purifiers can bring clean water to homes, schools, and clinics. These can even work without electricity, only requiring sunlight to distill the water. BioSand water filters are an example of purifiers that use concrete and sand to remove impurities, creating fresh drinking water that can uplift families and communities. 

Clean Water is a Miraculous Investment 

Clean water is more than just a humanitarian concern. It is also a pathway to a more prosperous future. For every $1 we invest in clean water and sanitation services, we earn back $4.30 in economic return. Every drop of water has ripple effects. 

These ripples become waves. When communities have access to clean water, it means that the wellbeing, time, and education of an individual is protected. After Koulou Démon’s community gained access to clean water, she no longer needed to walk long distanced to gather water from the nearest contaminated pond. With the time saved, she and fellow women in her village can go to work or engage in other productive tasks. 

Responsible for collecting water in 8 out of 10 households, women and girls trek far outside their communities to gather a basic element of survival. They spend several hours a day on this task—only to do it again the next. When clean water enters their lives, women and girls can be empowered to succeed in school and prosper in the workplace. 

Clean water initiatives can contribute to climate resilience as well. Solar-powered pumps, for instance, often are equipped with smart meters that can conserve water, which is especially important during periods of drought. And during the rainy season, these pumps can store excess water, keeping it safe for communities when they need it most. If the grid goes down during natural shocks, off-grid water systems can provide a lifeline to all. 

Looking Forward: Clean Water and Sanitation 

Improving access to clean water is a powerful force in the fight for health and equality. One water pump, one handwashing station, one toilet is all it takes for an individual to experience a present and future that’s filled with possibilities. 

But to make that happen, we’ll need to work together as governments, organizations, stakeholders, and communities. Through collective action, we can build healthier, more equitable, and resilient societies, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.