Water safety and quality
Water safety and quality are fundamental to human development and well-being. Providing access to safe water is one of the most effective instruments in promoting health and reducing poverty.
As the international authority on public health and water quality, WHO leads global efforts to prevent transmission of waterborne disease. This is achieved by promoting health-based regulations to governments and working with partners to promote effective risk management practices to water suppliers, communities and households.
Highlights
Guidelines for drinking-water quality: fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda
The fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda, of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Guidelines for drinking-water quality (GDWQ)...
Documents
Other relevant publications
All →Management of cyanobacteria in drinking-water supplies: information for regulators and water suppliers,...
This technical brief provides general information on the management of cyanobacteria in drinking-water supplies to help regulators and water suppliers...
Progress on household drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022: Special focus on gender
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development called for ‘ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’ under...
Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update
The report summarizes the estimates of the burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for the year 2019 for...
State of the world's drinking water: An urgent call to action to accelerate progress on ensuring safe...
This report, presents the data on the links between water, health and development and the status of drinking water, with actionable recommendations to...
Lead is a priority chemical hazard that should be included in national drinking-water quality standards and monitored as part of drinking-water quality...
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and...
Guidelines for drinking-water quality: fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda
The fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda, of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Guidelines for drinking-water quality (GDWQ)...
A global overview of national regulations and standards for drinking-water quality, 2nd ed.
Many countries use the GSWQ directly or indirectly in setting national drinking-water quality standards. To better understand the extent to which the GDWQ...
The purpose of the WHO human health risk assessment toolkit: chemical hazards is to provide its users with guidance to identify, acquire and use the information...