Policies and Standards

  • Name:
    Drinking-water quality guidelines
  • Issuing organisation:
    International
  • Geographical Scope:
    World Wide
  • Type:
    Recommendations
  • Water management focus:
  • Description:
    The World Health Organization (WHO) sets global "Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality" (GDWQ) to help countries create national standards, focusing on health risks from chemicals (like arsenic, lead, fluoride) and microbes, alongside aesthetic factors (taste, color). These guidelines provide evidence-based benchmarks (e.g., 0.01 mg/L for arsenic, 1.5 mg/L for fluoride) for safe drinking water, though actual legal limits vary by country, often incorporating WHO recommendations but also national priorities.
  • Status:
    Effective
  • Effect Date:
    Updated 2024
  • Resource:
    https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/water-sanitation-and-health/water-safety-and-quality/drinking-water-quality-guidelines