SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The goal of SDG6 is to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation. This includes improving water quality by reducing pollution and increasing the efficiency of water use across all sectors to address water scarcity.
Access to water and hygienic sanitation are basic human rights and are critical sustainable development challenges, particularly when it comes to improving health and gender equality. Better management of water resources also facilitates more effective food and energy production, as well as preserving biodiversity and limiting the impacts of climate change.
Poor management and under-prioritisation of water management remains widespread around the globe, however, while diseases related to poor water and sanitation are still among the major causes of death in children under five.
These challenges will only worsen – and the impacts on people will only increase – as competing demands for clean fresh water (from agriculture, households, energy generation, industrial use, ecosystems, etc.) are exacerbated by population growth, urbanisation, and the effects of climate change on water quality and availability. These conditions will create increasing risk for businesses, governments, communities, and the environment.
How CSC is making a positive difference?
The CSC certification plays a vital role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6 by actively contributing to responsible water management practices within the cement industry. Through its rigorous standards, CSC ensures that companies adopt measures to optimize water use and safeguard water quality. This includes implementing policies to use water responsibly and conducting assessments to address water scarcity concerns in the plant area. Moreover, CSC-certified companies are committed to monitoring and reporting their water consumption, as well as implementing appropriate measures to process returned concrete, thus minimizing water wastage. By adhering to the E5 criteria of the CSC certification, companies not only strive towards achieving water efficiency but also contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of water resources, ultimately supporting the goal of ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Where does it appear in the Technical Manual ?
E5 – Water
Aim
To optimize water use and to ensure that discharged water is of a quality that does not harm the environment.
E5.01 Water Policy
E5.02 Water scarcity and impact
E5.03 Water monitoring
E5.04 Water target
E5.05 Verification of water reporting
E5.06 Report on water use and quality of discharged water
E5.07 Water treatment
How the cement and concrete industry is making a positive difference
Construction of the infrastructure necessary to achieve SDG6 goals – e.g. to provide clean water (SDG6.1) and adequate sanitation (SDG6.2) – is made possible by concrete: its properties enable it to supply potable water and to carry wastewater; it is durable and resilient to climate-related and natural disasters; and it is cost effective and widely available.
Water is also a critical resource for cement and concrete production. The industry takes an active approach to managing its water usage to lower consumption, increase recycling, reduce pollution (SDG6.3), and protect water-related ecosystems (SDG6.6) and other industries that rely on water, such as agriculture. The importance of water management (SDG6.5) is highlighted in the GCCA Sustainability Charter with GCCA members required to monitor and report water usage against key performance indicators