Assessing water sustainability for the sustainable development goals: a systematic review and bibliometric analysis highlighting gaps in current assessment frameworks

Water sustainability plays a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as it influences human well-being, ecosystem integrity, and long-term development pathways. Over the past three decades, a substantial body of research has emerged on water sustainability; however, there remains a limited synthesis of how sustainability has been assessed, how assessment approaches have evolved, and the extent to which they align with the multidimensional intent of the SDGs. This study addresses the gap by combining a systematic review conducted using the PRISMA framework and bibliometric analysis from 1995 to 2025. The results show a marked acceleration in research output after 2015 following the formal adoption of the SDGs, with concentrations in a small number of countries and research hubs. Water sustainability assessment is mainly shaped by technically oriented indicator-based frameworks that emphasise water availability, water quality, and management performance. While these approaches have enabled comparability and methodological consistency, they often provide a partial representation of sustainability with limited integration of governance processes, social equity, cultural contexts, indigenous knowledge, and ecosystem services. The findings highlight the need for assessment approaches that go beyond technical metrics to more integrative and context-sensitive frameworks that can inform policy, support adaptive decisions, and reflect the interconnected nature of sustainable development.