This volume describes the methods used in the surveillance of drinking water quality in the light of the special problems of small-community supplies, particularly in developing countries, and outlines the strategies necessary to ensure that surveillance is effective.

Contents: v.1. Recommendations -- v.2. Health criteria and other supporting information -- v.3. Drinking-water quality control in small-community supplies.

This volume describes the methods used in the surveillance of drinking water quality in the light of the special problems of small-community supplies, particularly in developing countries, and outlines the strategies necessary to ensure that surveillance is effective.

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.

Most people associate fluoride with the practice of intentionally adding fluoride to public drinking water supplies for the prevention of tooth decay. However, fluoride can also enter public water systems from natural sources, including runoff from the weathering of fluoride-containing rocks and soils and leaching from soil into groundwater. Fluoride pollution from various industrial emissions can also contaminate water supplies. In a few areas of the United States fluoride concentrations in water are much higher than normal, mostly from natural sources. Fluoride is one of the drinking water contaminants regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because it can occur at these toxic levels. In 1986, the EPA established a maximum allowable concentration for fluoride in drinking water of 4 milligrams per liter, a guideline designed to prevent the public from being exposed to harmful levels of fluoride. Fluoride in Drinking Water reviews research on various health effects from exposure to fluoride, including studies conducted in the last 10 years.

This volume describes the methods used in the surveillance of drinking water quality in the light of the special problems of small-community supplies, particularly in developing countries, and outlines the strategies necessary to ensure that surveillance is effective.