Marking World Water Week 2025, WHO and UNICEF report that one in four people—about 2.1 billion—still lack access to safely managed drinking water. The joint update, “Progress on Household Drinking Water and Sanitation 2000–2024,” also notes 3.4 billion people without safely managed sanitation and 1.7 billion without basic hygiene at home. Coverage gaps are widest in least developed countries and fragile settings, with rural communities lagging behind urban areas. Data from 70 countries highlight unmet menstrual health needs, with many women and girls unable to change materials as often as required. The agencies call for accelerated investment in resilient WASH systems, equity‑focused policies, and district‑level monitoring to reach disadvantaged groups. Without faster progress, billions remain at elevated risk of waterborne disease, school absenteeism and lost productivity. The release aligns with renewed attention to universal, safely managed services as part of SDG 6 tracking. (Source: WHO/UNICEF)