WHO has released its updated Guidelines for drinking-water quality, providing the latest global guidance to support countries in protecting public health through safe drinking-water. Yet despite progress, the challenge remains stark: 2.1 billion people still lack safely managed drinking-water, including 106 million who drink directly from rivers, lakes or other surface water sources. The new Guidelines help countries close the safety gap, providing the authoritative basis for strengthening of drinking-water quality regulations and standards, surveillance programmes and risk management practices.
The updated edition reflects new evidence, implementation experience and practical lessons from countries applying risk-based approaches to drinking-water safety. It includes strengthened guidance on proactive water supply risk management, small water supplies, microbial risks and selected chemical hazards.
Framework for safe drinking-water
Updated guidance on proactive risk management
New and updated information on microbial risks
Updated guidance on selected chemicals
The Guidelines for drinking-water quality: fourth edition incorporates the first, second and third addenda and supersedes previous editions of the Guidelines, including the fourth edition that incorporated the first and second addenda, published in 2022.
Looking ahead
Kaynak: World Health Organization (WHO)
