The Manual highlights the human rights principles and criteria in relation to drinking water and sanitation. It explains the international legal obligations in terms of operational policies and practice that will support the progressive realisation of universal access. The Manual introduces a human rights perspective that will add value to informed decision making in the daily routine of operators, managers and regulators. It also encourages its readership to engage actively in national dialogues where the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation are translated into national and local policies, laws and regulations. Creating such an enabling environment is, in fact, only the first step in the process towards progressive realisation. Allocation of roles and responsibilities is the next step, in an updated institutional and operational set up that helps apply a human rights lens to the process of reviewing and revising the essential functions of operators, service providers and regulators.

A comprehensive overview of the human rights to water and sanitation, exploring theoretical, conceptual, and practical aspects.

Designed to assist policy makers and practitioners in implementing the right to water and sanitation. This publication, written in non-legal language, addresses the vital need to clarify how human rights can be practically realised in the water and sanitation sector. The Manual recognizes that implementing the right to water and sanitation is not limited to legal recognition or allocation of funds. Rather, it provides the basis for practical reforms in many areas of water supply and sanitation and in water resource management that can help make the water and sanitation sector operate in a manner that is more pro-poor, accountable and inclusive. The Manual will assist governments to operationalise under the international human rights treaties that they have ratified and serve as a useful tool to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals on water and sanitation.

The Department for International Development DFID commissioned this Guidance Manual from the WELL Resource Centre to assist staff and partners to develop effective and sustainable water supply and sanitation programmes. It represents collaboration across a range of professions within the Department and from key UK professionals in the sector. It details inter-disciplinary approaches to planning and implementation of partnership-based programmes. The Manual comprises three chapters and appendices. These take the reader from an overview of the sector, through specific development perspectives, to detailed recommendations for each stage of the project cycle. Chapter 1 is an introduction to water supply and sanitation projects and sets the scene. It describes the WS&S sector with particular focus on the development of services for the poor in both urban and rural areas. Emphasis is placed on the importance of co-operation and partnership and the chapter also introduces the DFID programme and project process. Chapter 2 Principles and practice starts with an inter-disciplinary analysis of key issues and then sets out recommended approaches under seven perspectives: social development; health; environmental sustainability; economic and financial perspectives; institutional perspectives; technical aspects; and hygiene promotion and sanitation promotion. These are explored in some detail so that professional staff in DFID and its partners will gain a better understanding of all the aspects and not just their own speciality. Chapter 3 Water supply and sanitation in the DFID programme and project cycle is the 'how to' part of the manual which brings together the disciplinary perspectives at each stage of the project cycle. The key issues to be taken into account are set out in a helpful 'question and recommendation' format. Appendices include examples of logical frameworks for water supply and sanitation projects.

This comprehensive handbook provides an authoritative source of information on global water and health, suitable for interdisciplinary teaching for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students. It covers both developing and developed country concerns. It is organized into sections covering: hazards (including disease, chemicals and other contaminants); exposure; interventions; intervention implementation; distal influences; policies and their implementation; investigative tools; and historic cases. It offers 71 analytical and engaging chapters, each representing a session of teaching or graduate seminar. Written by a team of expert authors from around the world, many of whom are actively teaching the subject, the book provides a thorough and balanced overview of current knowledge, issues and relevant debates, integrating information from the environmental, health and social sciences.