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.
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Small water supply management

The provision of safe and acceptable drinking-water of sufficient quantity frequently represents a challenge to small water supply systems in both developed and developing countries.

Small water supplies often experience technical and resourcing challenges that impact their ability to deliver safe and reliable services. They are therefore more likely to experience deficiencies related to water safety, leading to water-related illnesses and adverse social and economic impacts. To overcome these challenges, small water supplies should be explicitly considered in policies and regulations, taking a tailored approach and providing supporting tools, including those to support safe water supply management.

Investing in small water supplies will reduce waterborne disease outbreaks and overall costs in terms of the prevention of illness, death and associated health-care costs.

Relevant publications

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Compendium of drinking-water systems and technologies from source to consumer
15 October 2025

Compendium of drinking-water systems and technologies from source to consumer

Safe and reliable drinking-water supply depends on effective risk management, appropriate regulation and support, and well-informed technology selection....

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Guidelines for drinking-water quality: small water supplies
15 February 2024

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...

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Sanitary inspection packages – a supporting tool for the Guidelines for drinking water quality: small water supplies
15 February 2024

Sanitary inspection packages – a supporting tool for the Guidelines for drinking water quality: small...

A sanitary inspection is a simple, on-site evaluation (traditionally using a checklist) to help identify and support the management of priority risk factors...

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Protecting surface water for health: Identifying, assessing and managing drinking-water quality risks in surface-water catchments
15 May 2016

Protecting surface water for health: Identifying, assessing and managing drinking-water quality risks...

Protecting surface water for health provides a structured approach to understanding surface waters and their catchments to support the identification,...

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Water safety planning for small community water supplies
16 August 2012

Water safety planning for small community water supplies

The WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality recommends the application of a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach called Water Safety...

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