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.
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
Small drinking-water supplies commonly experience operational, managerial, technical and resourcing challenges that impact their ability to deliver safe...
The fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda, of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Guidelines for drinking-water quality (GDWQ)...
Many countries use the GSWQ directly or indirectly in setting national drinking-water quality standards. To better understand the extent to which the GDWQ...
Chapter 9 of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (GDWQ) provides guidance related to radiological aspects of drinking-water. Management...
This document provides practical guidance to support the development or revision of customized national or subnational drinking-water quality regulations...