Clear all

7 results found

reorder grid_view

Guidelines on Sanitation and Health

October 1, 2018

Safe sanitation is essential for health, from preventing infection to improving and maintaining mental and social well-being.Developed in accordance with the processes set out in the WHO Handbook for Guideline Development, these guidelines provide comprehensive advice on maximizing the health impact of sanitation interventions. The guidelines summarize the evidence on the links between sanitation and health, provide evidence-informed recommendations, and offer guidance for international, national and local sanitation policies and programme actions. The guidelines also articulate and support the role of health authorities in sanitation policy and programming to help ensure that health risks are identified and managed effectively.The audience for the guidelines is national and local authorities responsible for the safety of sanitation systems and services, including policy makers, planners, implementers within and outside the health sector and those responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of sanitation standards and regulations.

Developing Drinking-Water Quality Regulations and Standards

January 1, 2018

This document provides practical guidance to support the development or revision of customized national or subnational drinking-water quality regulations and standards.The principles and guidance presented are broadly applicable across countries and contexts, including more resource-limited settings. Supporting examples from both lower- and higher-income countries are included.Drinking-water quality regulations and standards developed or revised in accordance with this guidance will reflect the best practices identified in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality to most effectively protect public health. Moreover, the regulations and standards will consider local needs, priorities and capacities to ensure that they are realistic and appropriate. Topics covered include:Guiding principlesGetting startedSelecting parameters and parameter limitsSetting out compliance monitoring requirements

A Global Overview of National Regulations and Standards for Drinking-Water Quality

January 1, 2018

When setting national drinking-water quality regulations and standards, many countries consider the WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality (GDWQ). To better understand the extent to which the GDWQ are used and reflected in these standards, this global review summarizes information from 104 countries and territories on values specified in national drinking-water quality standards for aesthetic, chemical, microbiological and radiological parameters.The information provided will support regulatory agencies and other key stakeholders to access and compare data when setting or revising national drinking-water quality regulations and standards.

Climate Resilient Water Safety Plans: Managing the Health Risks Associated With Climate Variability and Change

June 10, 2017

Long-term planning for an adequate and safe supply of drinking-water should be set in the context of growing external uncertainties arising from changes in the climate and environment. The water safety plan (WSP) process offers a systematic framework to manage these risks by considering the implications of climate variability and change.This document is intended to help water suppliers and WSP teams who have already committed to using the WSP approach and are developing and implementing WSPs to gain greater understanding of climate change and how it can be considered and addressed in the WSP process. This document will also be useful to other stakeholders, particularly health and environment agencies who are supporting WSP implementation. It discusses how to take into consideration the broader issues of climate change, regional climate vulnerability assessments, disaster risk reduction and integrated water resources management within the WSP process. The details of how this is done for any particular WSP depend upon local circumstances.

Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality

January 1, 2017

The fourth edition of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Guidelines for drinking-water quality (GDWQ) builds on over 50 years of guidance by WHO on drinking-water quality, which has formed an authoritative basis for the setting of national regulations and standards for water safety in support of public health.It is the product of significant revisions to clarify and elaborate on ways of implementing its recommendations of contextual hazard identification and risk management, through the establishment of health-based targets, catchment-to-consumer water safety plans and independent surveillance.This first addendum updates the fourth edition. Updates reflect new evidence and further, provides additional explanations to support better understanding and application of the guidance.

Global Status Report on Water Safety Plans: A Review of Proactive Risk Assessment and Risk Management Practices to Ensure the Safety of Drinking-Water

January 1, 2017

Water safety planning is a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach that is widely recognized as the most reliable and effective way to manage drinking-water supplies to safeguard public health.Based on information gathered from 118 countries representing every region of the globe, this report provides a picture of WSP uptake worldwide. It presents information on WSP implementation and the integration of WSPs into the policy environment. It also explores WSP benefits, challenges and future priorities.It is envisaged that this report will serve as a useful resource for policy-makers, practitioners and other stakeholders to inform and strengthen the planning and practice of WSP implementation.

Potable Reuse: Guidance for producing Safe Drinking-Water

January 1, 2017

In response to growing pressures on available water resources, potable reuse represents a practical source of drinking-water in specific circumstances.This document describes how to apply appropriate management systems to produce safe drinking-water from municipal wastewater. Information is provided on specific aspects of potable reuse, including the quality and protection of source wastewaters, types of control measures, monitoring considerations and public acceptance. Application of potable reuse is also illustrated through a number of case studies.The guidance is intended for use by drinking-water suppliers and regulators who are familiar with the WHO's Guidelines for drinking-water quality and, in particular, the framework for safe drinking-water, including water safety plans. This publication may also be useful to others with an interest in potable reuse including environmental health and water resource professionals.