Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), set by the United Nations, centers on water governance and policy frameworks that ensure the availability and sustainable management of clean water for all. Despite extensive policy reforms and initiatives undertaken at the macro and micro levels, water scarcity, pollution, inequitable water distribution, and climate change continue to pose pressing challenges. Water and sanitation are at the core of sustainable development, and the range of services provided supports poverty reduction, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Despite these efforts, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change have in recent decades led to severe water stress across the globe. The world urgently needs to transform the way it manages water resources to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth across communities. Practical guidance is needed on making water and sanitation services universally and equitably accessible, and on preserving and protecting global natural systems. Healthy hydrological systems are key pillars of the Earth system and reinforce climate stability. Conversely, changes that negatively impact hydrological systems steadily affect other natural ecosystems, climate regulation, carbon storage, disaster resilience, and ultimately human well-being. Transboundary water distribution conflicts between two or more countries require immediate attention and must be resolved amicably, with due regard for the well-being of communities in those regions. Water scarcity has forced rural communities across the world to migrate from their homes, creating additional social challenges.

This Special Issue focuses on the social dimensions of water challenges. It aims to understand how water scarcity affects human well-being and exacerbates inequalities, and to explore what governance and policy arrangements can promote sustainable and equitable water access.

· Social Inequality in Water Access

· Governance Mechanisms and Institutional Arrangements

· Community Participation and Stakeholder Engagement

· Institutional Design and Policy Evaluation

· Water Delivery Reliability

· Irrigation Efficiency & Agricultural Transformation

· Land Use and Water Productivity

· Integrated Performance and Investment Analysis

· Food Security, Poverty Reduction, and Climate-Resilience

· Energy-Efficient Water Management