Water Sanitation and Health
Our vision and mission are the attainment by all peoples of the lowest possible burden of water and sanitation-related disease through primary prevention.

Drinking-water quality regulation

Regulation aimed at ensuring the safety of drinking-water is a powerful tool to protect public health in developed and developing countries alike.

Robust drinking-water regulatory systems will be catalytic to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with regards to achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking-water for all.

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Strengthening wash regulatory systems

Call to action on Strengthening Water and Sanitation Regulatory Systems

Launched in June 2025, the Call to Action on Strengthening Water and Sanitation Regulatory Systems’ outlines a collective vision and set of actions to support the development of robust, inclusive, and climate-resilient regulatory frameworks for water and sanitation services. It has been co-developed by a diverse coalition of partners—including regulators, utilities, international organisations, NGOs, youth networks, and development banks—through an open and inclusive consultation process.

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Relevant publications

Guidelines for drinking-water quality: small water supplies

Small drinking-water supplies commonly experience operational, managerial, technical and resourcing challenges that impact their ability to deliver safe...

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...

Management of radioactivity in drinking-water

Chapter 9 of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (GDWQ) provides guidance related to radiological aspects of drinking-water.  Management...

Developing drinking-water quality regulations and standards

This document provides practical guidance to support the development or revision of customized national or subnational drinking-water quality regulations...