Investment gaps, weak governance slowing safe drinking water access for billions, says WHO official

PROTECTING VULNERABLE WATER SUPPLIES

Emerging trends such as urbanisation and climate change are placing increasing pressure on water supplies worldwide, potentially raising the risk of waterborne diseases, the WHO said.

Gordon noted that countries must prepare for climate-related threats to water systems.

These include flooding caused by excessive rainfall, water shortages during droughts and worsening pollution from sources such as industry, agriculture and untreated wastewater.

The updated WHO guidelines place greater emphasis on ensuring small water supplies are explicitly considered in policies, the role of the government in supporting risk management by water suppliers, and providing updated information on microbial pathogens.

Microbial contamination remains one of the biggest health risks associated with drinking water globally.

While many countries have the knowledge and tools needed to address the threat, Gordon said implementation often falls short.

“When you see these outbreaks of disease, some of those very basic prevention and protection measures aren’t taking place,” he said.

Failures can occur for a range of reasons, including shortages of supplies, a lack of trained personnel or delays in detecting contamination events, he added.

Gordon said the focus on smaller water systems is especially important because they continue to be linked to disease outbreaks, including in developed countries.

“We need to really close the gap,” he said, adding that robust water and sanitation systems can help prevent a wide range of waterborne diseases.

“There’s tools and approaches that both regulators and the local community can (use) to make sure that people are not getting sick from small systems.”