Water is a vital natural resource for human survival and socio-economic development. The absence of portable water poses a major threat not only to humans in term of water related diseases but also to sustainable development as a whole. The challenges of water unavailability in Buea, the South West Regional capital of Cameroon,  includes trekking long distances, crossing major roads and queuing for hours to fetch potable water  and has far reaching effects on human survival and sustainable development at both micro and macro levels. The nature of water management in Cameroon largely depends on a single water company appointed the state, which has rather been nonchalant despite the alarming setbacks. Consequently if safe drinking water is a basic human right as stipulated in Sustainable development Goal 6 and imperative for the achievement of sustainable development and poverty reduction, then the risks surrounding this need must be addressed through informed policies and at all levels, to enhance optimum participation and contribution by users to economic and social development.