Guidelines for drinking‑water quality: fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda
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World Health Organization
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xxvi, 583 p.
Access to safe drinking-water is essential for health, a basic human right and a fundamental component of sustainable development. This publication presents the fourth edition of the WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality, incorporating the first and second addenda, and provides an authoritative framework for protecting public health through the safe management of drinking-water. Intended primarily for regulators, policy-makers and their advisers, the Guidelines support the development of national policies, regulations and standards based on preventive risk management from catchment to consumer. They address microbial, chemical, radiological and acceptability aspects of drinking-water quality, together with health-based targets, water safety plans, surveillance and verification. This updated edition integrates previous revisions and incorporates new scientific evidence and guidance on topics including climate change, wastewater reuse, chemical mixtures, radionuclide management, cyanobacteria and emerging contaminants. It expands and updates guideline values, health-based values and chemical fact sheets, while reinforcing the multiple-barrier approach to drinking-water safety and the roles of stakeholders in ensuring safe water supplies. The publication also provides practical guidance for applying risk assessment and risk management principles across diverse settings, supporting countries in adapting the recommendations to national priorities, capacities and regulatory frameworks.
Access to safe drinking-water is essential for health, a basic human right and a fundamental component of sustainable development. This publication presents the fourth edition of the WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality, incorporating the first and second addenda, and provides an authoritative framework for protecting public health through the safe management of drinking-water. Intended primarily for regulators, policy-makers and their advisers, the Guidelines support the development of national policies, regulations and standards based on preventive risk management from catchment to consumer. They address microbial, chemical, radiological and acceptability aspects of drinking-water quality, together with health-based targets, water safety plans, surveillance and verification. This updated edition integrates previous revisions and incorporates new scientific evidence and guidance on topics including climate change, wastewater reuse, chemical mixtures, radionuclide management, cyanobacteria and emerging contaminants. It expands and updates guideline values, health-based values and chemical fact sheets, while reinforcing the multiple-barrier approach to drinking-water safety and the roles of stakeholders in ensuring safe water supplies. The publication also provides practical guidance for applying risk assessment and risk management principles across diverse settings, supporting countries in adapting the recommendations to national priorities, capacities and regulatory frameworks.