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Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

The University of Wollongong is committed to working towards the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its governance, teaching and learning, community engagement, partnerships and research. The following initiatives are by UOW staff and students working towards SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

Teaching & learning

2,318 students studying this goal 2,458 students studying subjects about this goal

Advocacy & outreach

257 media articles about this goal 301 media articles about this goal
audience reach 191 Million audience reach across multiple outlets

Research

*2023 SciVal figures accessed Jul/Aug 2024

47.8% of publications had international collaboration 74.2% of publications had international collaboration
3 citations per publication (global average 2.3) 7.1 citations per publication (global average 4.2)
17.4% publications in the Top 10% most cited 44.8 publications in the Top 10% most cited

Case studies

A new, multi-purpose tourism, community and research hub, the National Circularity Centre (NCC) will be built in the Bega Valley on the NSW South Coast, to develop market-leading research and demonstrate replicable models for the circular economy.   

The Centre will keep resources in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them while in use, before recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their life. 

The University of Wollongong, through its membership of the Regional Circularity Cooperative (RCC), will be a driving partner to establish the Centre, bringing research expertise in energy, materials innovation and sustainable building practices. 

The NCC will be a test case for scalable solutions with potential for world-wide application. It will offer business and edu-tourism opportunities where visitors can see solutions they can implement in their own workplaces and homes.   

Artist impression of National Circularity Centre shows an opening toi a courtyard with a circular roof

  • SGD 2 - Zero hunger 
  • SDG 3 - Good health and wellbeing 
  • SDG 6 - Clean water and sanitation  
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable cities and communities 
  • SDG 12 - Responsible consumption and production 
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Learn why Bega Valley is the perfect location to prove the concept of the circular economy

Initiatives

Bottled water creates large amounts of waste, with plastic bottles among the ten most common rubbish items picked up on Cleanup Australia Day. Australia recycles only 36% of PET plastic drink bottles. Around 373 million plastic water bottles end up as waste each year. At UOW campuses, water drinking fountains and/or bottle refill locations are available to all, across buildings and at numerous outdoor locations.

The Water Management Action Plan has been developed to reduce potable water use, maximise rainwater capture capacity and water reuse and recycling opportunities, comply with NSW water quality standard, and improve awareness and education the UOW campus community about water conservation and water pollution and water quality issues. UOW also implemented measures to track the total volume of water used in the university, a process in place to treat wastewater, minimise water usage and maximise water reuse including sustainable rainwater extraction and storage on campus.

Fact sheets

See our Water Management Action Plan [PDF]

 

Explore UOW's impact and commitment to each of the goals

Goal 1: No Poverty No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing Good Health and Well-Being
Goal 4: Quality Education Quality Education
Goal 5: Gender Equality Gender Equality
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy Affordable and Clean Energy
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 10: Reduced inequalities Reduced Inequalities
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 13: Climate action Climate Action
Goal 14: Life Below Water Life Below Water
Goal 15: Life on Land Life on Land
Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals Partnerships for the Goals

Latest news for SDG 6

Environment and Energy, Research, Science and Technology

New research uncovers the mysteries of the elusive Bryde’s whales

Citizen scientists and whale watchers help researchers capture new images of large whales in NSW waters
Business and Economy, Education, Environment and Energy, Health and Medicine, Science and Technology

Sustainability Report highlights achievements on climate change, biodiversity and social equity

UOW delivering on its commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Environment and Energy

Scientists reviewed 7,000 studies on microplastics

Their alarming conclusion puts humanity on notice