Call to Action on Strengthening Water and Sanitation Regulatory Systems
The Call to Action on Strengthening Water and Sanitation Regulatory Systems sets out a shared vision for how governments, regulators, service providers, and partners can work together to improve public health, achieve equity, and build resilience through better regulation. Available in six languages, these documents provide practical guidance, political framing and implementation recommendations to support action at national and regional levels.
Why it Matters
The Urgent Need to Strengthen Water and Sanitation Regulatory Systems
The world is far off track to achieve SDG 6, with progress needing to increase five to six times to ensure safely managed drinking-water and sanitation for all. Effective regulatory systems with clear frameworks, enforcement, and adequate resources are essential to improving services, ensuring sustainability, and realising the human rights to water and sanitation. Yet in many countries regulation is under-resourced, fragmented, or excludes informal and decentralised services, leaving billions without protection. Strengthening regulation is therefore urgent to improve governance, resilience, and equity, and the Call to Action urges all stakeholders to adopt proactive, flexible, and inclusive approaches to ensure safe, sustainable, and equitable services for all.