Levels of protection
The draft text is now available for review. Comments are welcome following the format on the comment sheet, below.
Comments on the text should be sent before 15 May 2007 to gdwqDALY@who.int.
Rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality
Levels of protection against microbial, chemical and radiological hazards are included in the plan of work of the rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.
Background
The Third Edition of the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality provides, for the first time, some comparisons regarding the levels of protection against microbial, chemical and radiological hazards. The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Final Task Force meeting (Geneva, 2003) recommended that this be further developed and, to the extent possible, that information on “best estimates of risk” be included. AMRO has requested guidance on calculating disability adjusted life years (DALYs), taking into account social impact (i.e. differences between low- and high-income countries).
Expected end-product(s)
- Revisions to Policies and Procedures Manual
- Instructional note for authors of JMPR reports and CICADs (also to be included as an annex in the Policies and Procedures Manual)
- Revised paragraph in chapter 3 of the GDWQ, for the second addendum
- Guidance on calculation and use of DALYs for inclusion in the Fourth Edition or (probably) post-Fourth Edition and/or cross-reference to an alternative source
Progress to date
The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2004) agreed to a plan of work. A fact sheet on guidance for calculating DALYs, taking into account differences between low- and high-income countries, was prepared and reviewed by the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2005).