Chemical background documents available for review

The World Health Organization (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 worldwide. The ‘Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality’ (GDWQ) promote the protection of public health by advocating for the development of locally relevant standards and regulations, the adoption of preventive risk management approaches, and independent surveillance to ensure that water safety plans are being implemented and that national standards are being met.

The GDWQ are updated through a rolling revision process, presenting the latest scientific evidence and addressing key concerns raised by countries. Asbestos and manganese are included in the latest  revision of the GDWQ, and the draft revised background documents are now available for review, with comments requested by 8 February 2021.

Source: WHO, 14 December 2020