The MDGs were developed out of several commitments set forth in the Millennium Declaration, signed in September 2000. There are eight goals with 21 targets, and a series of measurable health indicators and economic indicators for each target.

In 2010, the world met the United Nations Millennium Development Goals target on access to safe drinking-water, as measured by the proxy indicator of access to improved drinking-water sources, but more needs to be done to achieve the sanitation target.

Millennium Development Goals, targets and indicators The MDGs recognize the contribution that developed countries can make through trade, development assistance, debt relief, and technology transfer. To track the 8 MDG goals, a framework including a specific set of targets and indicators were identified.

The MDG target on access to water and sanitation aims for a fifty percent reduction in the lack of access to improved water sources and improved sanitation facilities by 2015. The country’s targets for universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation have been set to be achieved by 2011 and 2013, respectively.

Drawn from the Millennium Declaration, adopted and agreed to by all Governments in 2000, the MDGs represent the commitments of United Nations Member States to reduce extreme poverty and its many manifestations: hunger, disease, gender inequality, lack of education and access to basic infrastructure, and environmental …

Goal 7 (or MDG 7) focuses on the objective to “ensure environmental sustainability” and includes specific targets related to issues as diverse as the integration of sustainable development principles into country policies and programmes; the need to reverse the loss of environmental resources; improved access to safe …

Seventeen new, more specific, scientific and measureable goals will build upon the MDGs. Goal #6 of the 17, is “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” and includes targets covering topics such as water quality and open defecation. Indicators for the new targets will be set by March, 2016.

Water, Sanitation and the Millennium Development Goals: A Report Card on Global Progress. Goal #6 of the 17, is “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” and includes targets covering topics such as water quality and open defecation. Indicators for the new targets will be set by March, 2016.

One hundred forty-seven countries 1 have met the drinking water target, including nations in Eastern Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, South-Eastern Asia, Southern Asia and Western Asia. Sub-Saharan Africa did not achieve the drinking water target, but demonstrated a 20 percent gain in access to improved water sources.

The UN reports 91 percent of the global population now uses an “improved drinking water source” compared to 76 percent in 1990. Of the 2.6 billion people who have gained access to improved drinking water since 1990, 1.9 billion (73%) gained access to on-premises piped drinking water.