Water Literacy: Why every student needs to understand our most critical resource

Water is more than a resource — it’s a story of survival, innovation and the interconnected systems that sustain humanity. As highlighted in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): Clean Water and Sanitation, access to clean water is both a basic right and a global challenge. Ebook Central from ProQuest, part of Clarivate, has released a curated collection of titles that delve into this critical topic.

Why water literacy matters now

The statistics are stark and sobering.

• • 2.2 billion people still lacked safely managed drinking water, including 703 million without a basic water service
  • Global freshwater demand will outstrip supply by 40% by 2030
  • Poor water quality causes 80% of diseases and 50% of child deaths globally
  • Nine out of ten natural disasters worldwide are water-related

Droughts, waterborne illness outbreaks and agricultural overuse of groundwater reflect a growing crisis that connects communities, economies and environments. Addressing these issues demands urgent, interdisciplinary action — and that starts with education.

More than a scientific topic, water serves as a lens through which students across disciplines can explore complex global challenges and interconnected solutions. The new Ebook Central collection, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, is designed to equip educators and students with the resources they need to bridge disciplines and pave the way for more sustainable water systems. It is available to browse via LibCentral, Rialto and OASIS.

Water as a universal learning ecosystem

Ebook Central collection, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation is curated to reflect the multifaceted nature of this critical issue, offering resources that empower educators and students across fields to address water-related challenges collaboratively:

• • Engineering students: Designing sustainable water infrastructure and purification technologies. Recommended titles: Handbook of Environmental Remediation (DocID 6134358); Industrial Wastewater Treatment, Recycling and Reuse (DocID 1747088)
  • Public health majors: Examining water's critical role in disease prevention and promoting wellness. Recommended titles: Water-Associated Infectious Diseases (DocID 5983465); Planetary Health (Doc ID 5896121)
  • Economics students: Analyzing water as both an economic driver and a potential source of resource-driven conflict. Recommended titles: Water Policies in MENA Countries (DocID 6026479); Liquid Asset (DocID 30750646)
  • Environmental science scholars: Study ecosystems and develop climate adaptation strategies. Recommended titles: The Other Dark Matter (DocID 6726494); Biological Treatment of Industrial Wastewater (DocID 6807776)
  • Policy and governance learners: Create equitable frameworks for managing water resources. Recommended titles: Water Diplomacy in Action (DocID 4774323); Water Management and Sustainability in Asia (DocID 6646770)
  • Agricultural science researchers: Innovating water-efficient farming techniques. Recommended titles: Running Out (DocID 6554330); Water Pollution and Remediation: Heavy Metals (Doc ID 6403016)
  • Computer scientists: Develop AI and data-driven solutions for sustainable water management. Recommended titles: Water Informatics (DocID 31501363); Innovations in Machine Learning and IoT for Water Management (DocID 30985691)

Curriculum as a catalyst for global solutions

By embedding water studies into higher education, universities can transform passive learning into active, solution-driven citizenship. Integrating water literacy into the curriculum empowers students to develop:

• • Holistic thinking: Break down departmental silos to craft interdisciplinary solutions.
  • Global perspectives: Explore innovations and strategies with worldwide impact.
  • Sustainability mindsets: Prioritize conservation and equitable access in all efforts.

This shift doesn’t just prepare students to solve water-related issues — it equips them to lead the charge in addressing the most pressing challenges of our time.

Designed with library needs in mind

Ebook Central collection, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation includes standout titles like:

• • Superman's Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It (Penguin Random House, 2020)
  • The Water Recycling Revolution: Tapping into the Future (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022)
  • Bioremediation: A Sustainable Approach to Preserving Earth's Water (Taylor & Francis, 2019)
  • Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge (University of Chicago Press, 2022)

These resources provide students with the knowledge to tackle challenges spanning policy, infrastructure, conservation and innovation.

Discover our comprehensive collection of ebooks on SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation through the Curated Topic section in Rialto, OASIS or LibCentral. The collection spans multiple disciplines and features titles recognized by Choice, the Book Citation Index and Resources for College Libraries. With flexible acquisition options designed for libraries of all sizes, librarians can easily select individual titles to build a collection that meets their institution's needs while ensuring broad access to these vital resources.

Get the title list.

At Clarivate, we drive measurable impact with our approach to sustainability built on the foundation of our purpose, vision and mission, and underpinned by our values. Our interconnected, shared purpose remains a core component of our business strategy to improve environmental, social and governance issues worldwide. To learn more about sustainability at Clarivate visit https://clarivate.com/sustainability-at-clarivate/.