Ensuring water safety and quality
Water safety and quality are fundamental to human development and well-being. Providing access to safe water is one of the most effective instruments in promoting health and reducing poverty.
With 2.1 billion people lacking a safely managed drinking-water supply and more than half of the 842,000 WASH-related deaths attributed to unsafe drinking-water, the SDG ambition for safely managed drinking-water for every household underscores the significant potential health impact of achievement of SDG Target 6.1.
As the international authority on public health and water quality, WHO leads global efforts to prevent transmission of waterborne disease. This is achieved by promoting health-based regulations to governments and working with partners to promote effective risk management practices to water suppliers, communities and households.
