The challenges of universal access to water: some contributions to the sustainable management of water resources in rural areas

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, highlighted as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all, including vulnerable groups, considers water a human right and advocates for its universalization. Thus, the article aims to o point out, in the field of public, social and governmental policies, assumptions for the sustainable management of water resources in rural areas or for territorially vulnerable populations. The article is based on a qualitative and descriptive methodology, using bibliographic and documentary data to analyze socioeconomic practices and public policies in water resources management. It explores the conceptual framework of the Social and Solidarity Economy and its link with sustainable territorial development, highlighting the importance of community participation and collaboration in water management. The authors suggest that shared or cooperative management of water resources is one way to address environmental, economic, and social challenges. In conclusion, shared management of water resources can solve environmental, economic, and social challenges in rural areas and vulnerable populations, promoting sustainable territorial development.