A Guide to Equitable Water Safety Planning: Ensuring No One is Left Behind

Summary

The lack of access to safe drinking water is felt disproportionately by those who are disadvantaged socially, economically, demographically or geographically, and explicit consideration of these groups is required to understand and address disparities.

The guide describes how, with relatively modest efforts, the water safety plan (WSP) approach can bring tangible improvements in water quality and availability for all users. By providing step-by-step guidance for all WSP stakeholders, as well as good practice examples from a broad range of countries and contexts, this document serves as a practical tool to help achieve safe water for all.

The guidance document highlights the opportunity for water safety plans (WSPs) to contribute to achievement of the SDGs, especially SDG target 6.1 on safe drinking water for all, provided that equity considerations become part of policy, implementation and monitoring. WHO reports that at least 93 countries so far have introduced WSPs, and more are expected to do so.