Materials and chemicals ("additives")
Rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality
Materials and chemicals are included in the plan of work of the rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.
Expected end-product(s)
- Additional text in section 8.4 of Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, for inclusion in first addendum to third edition;
- Additional text in section 8.5.4, for inclusion in first addendum to third edition;
- Supporting document Safety of Materials and Chemicals Used in the Production and Distribution of Drinking-water, publication date unknown.
Progress to date
The 1995 Coordinating Committee meeting identified materials and chemicals used in the production and distribution of drinking-water as one of the principal thematic areas that should be addressed by the Protection and Control Working Group. The development of a monograph on this theme was adopted by the 1996 Working Group meeting, and work was initiated at a workshop planning meeting in 1997. The 1998 Working Group meeting reviewed progress and endorsed the approach taken, recommending that a consolidated draft be submitted to selected peer review in late 1998 and an expert meeting be called in early 1999, with the overall objective of peer-reviewed text being available to the next Working Group meeting. The Berlin Coordinating Committee meeting (2000) reviewed the draft document and recommended that it proceed to peer review. The document was under review at the time of the Chemical Aspects Working Group meeting (Tokyo, 2002). The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Final Task Force meeting (Geneva, 2003) suggested that “additive” chemicals be a focus of activity in relation both to derivation and use of guideline values and to provision of guidance on good practice in control of associated hazards. In addition, it has been suggested that section 8.4 on Treatment needs to be rechecked in terms of its applicability to chemicals used in water treatment and chemicals arising from materials in contact with drinking-water. Text for inclusion in sections 8.4 and 8.5.4 of the first addendum to the third edition was prepared and incorporated. The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2005) agreed to a revised plan of work.