To people on Earth, a glass of clean water is a dream.
To make that dream a reality, we're on a mission: Mission 2030 to achieve UN Target 6.1, providing access to clean drinking water to every community. And it begins with adding 1,000,000 voices to our cause.
already signed. This week's goal: .
Who We Are
Essential Need is an Australian registered charitable organisation.
We are part of the front line in the quest to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, Target 6.1 - safe drinking water for all.
Why Water Matters
Safe drinking water
It is an essential foundation for human development.
Without water
Preventable diseases become epidemics, communities disintegrate, children will not be educated and economic development stagnates.
With water
Communities flourish, health improves and long-term education and development becomes possible.
What We Do
Our mission is simple and urgent:
Working to help every community in Australia and vulnerable locations overseas to have access to safe, reliable drinking water. This mission involves ending water poverty by building the systems to achieve it.
However, to achieve our goals we need the help of external support.
Government departments
Opinion informers
Financial donors
Influencers
Educators & Volunteers
The public
How We Do It
Our approach is based on four key functions:
Systems
Identifying and promoting the connections between safe water and health, education, and economic development.
Action
Via infrastructure initiatives, the coordination of information, the means and necessary systems to achieve sustainable outcomes.
Data Translation
Converting systems data into tangible functions to inform and motivate everyone involved in achieving Target 6.1.
Education
Engagement and transfer of knowledge to enable a wider understanding of the safe water global dilemma, and how to solve it.
What We Build
We create tools and frameworks that make water access measurable and actionable:
World Water Map
A global platform that makes water access visible, linking Target 6.1 data to human development outcomes across countries. Explore the Map or read the Guide.
Target 6.1 Map
A system for identifying water needs, delivering smart solutions, and live monitoring water services - explore the Map.
Sustainable Water Service System
Operational water services with verified sustainability and reliability across every site - explore Isale-Oja community as an example.
Education programs
Government-supported learning using systems thinking and real-world data to address SDG 6.1 water challenges - explore the program.
Together, these systems support the identification, delivery, monitoring, and long-term sustainability of safe drinking water services.