Global norms and capacity building: Drinking water quality guidelines

WHO produces international norms on water quality and human health in the form of guidelines that are used as the basis for regulation and standard setting world-wide. The Guidelines for drinking-water quality (GDWQ) promote the protection of public health by advocating for the development of locally relevant standards and regulations (health based targets), adoption of preventive risk management approaches covering catchment to consumer (Water Safety Plans 9WSP) and independent surveillance to ensure that Water Safety Plans are being implemented and effective and that national standards are being met.
The GDWQ effort includes a variety of derivative guidelines such as the Small Community Water Supply Guidelines, and technical products such as the WSP manual, chemical and pathogen fact sheets, potable reuse and emerging issue such as microplastics and PFAS.
Leading Entity
World Health Organization (WHO)
Contributing Action Number
CA3.18
Primary Entry Point
3: Align UN system support for integration
Additional Entry Point(s)
4: Accelerate progress and transformational change
Output(s)
Output 3.2: Integrated policy frameworks to manage water and sanitation across sectors are supported by the UN system using latest data and evidence
Output 4.5: Governance of water and sanitation is improved through UN system support, including with emphasis on the needs of developing countries
SDG 6 Target(s)
SDG target 6.1: Achieve safe and affordable drinking water
Type of Engagement
Normative support (e.g. development of normative guidance, guidelines and standards)
Geographical Scope
Global level
More Information
https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/water-sanitation-and-health/water-safety-and-quality

Leading Entity

United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation

The Contributing Actions are key initiatives supporting the United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation, aligning individual and joint efforts across UN entities and partnering organizations to advance global water and sanitation goals. These actions are integrated into the Collaborative Implementation Plan (CIP) Results Framework 2025-2028, which provides a structured approach to achieving system-wide impact through coordinated UN efforts.
The Priority Collaborative Actions outlined in the framework focus on enhancing water security, improving governance, strengthening climate resilience, and accelerating progress on sanitation and hygiene. By fostering system-wide collaboration among UN agencies, these actions help drive policy coherence, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions to address the world’s most pressing water challenges.