Water quality and health strategy 2013-2020

The quality of water, whether used for drinking, domestic purposes, food production or recreational purposes has an important impact on health. Water of poor quality can cause disease outbreaks and it can contribute to background rates of disease manifesting themselves on different time scales. Initiatives to manage the safety of water do not only support public health, but often promote socioeconomic development and wellbeing as well-being. This document sets out the strategy adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to manage water quality with a view to protecting and promoting human health. The water quality and health strategy is a framework for action by the WHO Secretariat. It was prepared through a consultative process, building on past World Health Assembly resolutions, in particular WHA64/24, expert consultations, and feedback from a wide range of stakeholders on WHO water quality guidelines and associated activities. It also builds upon the MDGs, the human rights to water and sanitation and the post 2015. MDG process, which give increased attention to water quality aspects. It defines strategic objectives and includes activities to guide the water quality work of WHO. [authors abstract]