This is the third edition of the WHO's guidelines which are used by countries worldwide to set standards for the regulation of drinking water quality and effective approaches to water safety management. This revised edition has been updated to take account of recent developments in risk assessment and management. Topics discussed include: a framework for drinking water safety and discussion of the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, such as national regulators, water suppliers and independent surveillance agencies; guidance on microbial safety of drinking water through safety plans; new scientific information on chemicals, waterborne pathogens and individual chemical hazards of actual or potential concern. It also considers the application of the guidelines in specific circumstances, such as in emergencies and disasters, and to specific applications, such as bottled water. It also contains information on over 130 documents which substantiate or explain the content of the Guidelines, and on good practice guidance in achieving drinking-water safety.

The fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda, of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Guidelines for drinking-water quality (GDWQ) builds on over 60 years of guidance by WHO on drinking-water quality, which has formed an authoritative basis for the setting of national regulations and standards for water safety in support of public health. It is the product of significant revisions to clarify and elaborate on ways of implementing its recommendations of contextual hazard identification and risk management, through the establishment of health-based targets, catchment-to-consumer water safety plans and independent surveillance. Updates in this latest edition reflect new evidence and further, provides additional explanations to support better understanding and application of the guidance. More details on the updates are included in the GDWQ preface.

"Well-written and informative." --Richard Lewis, Lewis Information Systems "This [book] combines information which could possibly haverequired as many as four reference sources in the past." --Steven C. Messer In its first edition, John De Zuane's popular reference drewwide praise for being an insightful theoretical resource. Now, inthe second edition of Handbook of Drinking Water Quality, DeZuane builds on that legacy with the same practical and conceptualemphases, adding a wealth of new information that providesimmediate access to the data and guidelines needed to * understand the impact of drinking water parameters on publichealth * help build and operate water supply facilities * conduct reliable drinking water sampling, monitoring, andanalytical evaluation * implement potability standards from the source to the treatmentfacility, to storage, to the tap * write new standards and expand/modify existing standards asquickly as needed Preventing contamination of drinking water requires amultidisciplinary perspective, one that incorporates elements ofbacteriology, chemistry, physics, engineering, public health,preventive medicine, and control and evaluation management. In aconcise, easy-to-use format, Handbook of Drinking WaterQuality, Second Edition, describes * Data and guidelines from the World Health Organization and theEuropean Community used to develop drinking water standards * U.S. drinking water standards--their physical, chemical,microbiological, and radionuclide parameters and monitoringrequirements * EPA-approved analytical methods and the most effectivetreatment technologies for each contaminant * Critical concepts of water quality control as applied in watertreatment in conventional or chemical treatment plants * Disinfection and fluoridation requirements * Common problems with water distribution systems, including deadends, sediments, bacterial growth, insufficient pressure, and mainbreaks To keep pace with recent breakthroughs in scientific research,water analysis, and program implementation and monitoring, thisSecond Edition features expanded and updated informationon * All drinking water regulations issued since the previousedition in 1990 * Current drinking water standards adopted by the EuropeanCommunity * Lead poisoning, radon, and Cryptosporidium * Compulsory water treatment for lead and copper * Coliform Rule compliance (disinfection and filtration) * Trihalomethane reduction with ozonation As a quick reference, handbook, and technical manual Handbookof Drinking Water Quality, Second Edition, is an essentialvolume for engineers, water supply and treatment personnel,environmental scientists, public health officials, or anyoneresponsible for assuring the safety of drinking water.

Small drinking-water supplies commonly experience operational, managerial, technical and resourcing challenges that impact their ability to deliver safe and reliable services. The needs and opportunities associated with these supplies therefore warrant explicit consideration in policies and regulations. These Guidelines, specifically tailored to small water supplies, build on over 60 years of guidance by the World Health Organization (WHO) on drinking-water quality and safety. They focus on establishing drinking-water quality regulations and standards that are health based and context appropriate; on proactively managing risks through water safety planning and sanitary inspections; and on carrying out independent surveillance. The guidance is intended primarily for decision-makers at national and subnational levels with responsibility for developing regulatory frameworks and support programmes related to these activities. Other stakeholders involved in water service provision will also benefit from the guidance in this document. Designed to be practical and accessible, these Guidelines offer clear guidance that is rooted in the principle of progressive improvement. State-of-the-art recommendations and implementation guidance are provided, drawn from a comprehensive evidence review and established good practices. Additionally, case examples are provided from countries and areas around the world to demonstrate how the guidance in this publication has been implemented in practice in a wide variety of contexts. Together with WHO’s 2024 Sanitary inspection packages – a supporting tool for the Guidelines for drinking-water quality: small water supplies, these Guidelines update and supersede WHO’s 1997 Guidelines for drinking-water quality. Volume 3: surveillance and control of community supplies. Key changes to this updated publication include a greater focus on preventive risk management and a broader range of small water supplies covered, including those managed by households, communities and professional entities.

This fourth edition incorporating the first addendum, of the World Health Organization's Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality builds on over 50 years of guidance by WHO on drinking-water quality, which has formed an authoritative basis for the setting of national regulations and standards for water safety in support of public health. It is the product of significant revisions to clarify and elaborate on ways of implementing its recommendations of contextual hazard identification and risk management, through the establishment of health-based targets, catchment-to-consumer water safety plans and independent surveillance. It reflects the renewed focus on primary prevention. Significant additional guidance on good practice is presented, incorporating changes introduced by the first and second addenda to the third edition. Emerging water management issues are comprehensively addressed for a range of circumstances, from household water treatment and safe storage and the bulk supply of water over long distances to the potential implications of climate change. Additional risk assessments are presented for a number of new chemical and microbial hazards and applied to a suite of pesticides used for public health purposes. Existing reviews on chemicals and waterborne pathogens have been revised to account for new scientific information. The chapter on radiological aspects of drinking-water quality has been comprehensively updated. Even more than the previous edition, this new edition incorporating the first addendum, emphasizes achievable practices and the formulation of sound regulations, applicable to low-income, middle-income and industrialized countries alike, that aim to prevent a potential health crisis caused by the consumption of unsafe drinking-water, against the backdrop of rapid urbanization, water scarcity and climate change.