Highlights | ||
 | Calcium and magnesium in drinking-water: public health significance | |
 Can calcium and magnesium (‘hardness’) in drinking-water contribute to preventing disease? This book documents the results of an expert group assembled by WHO to address this question. It includes their comprehensive consensus view on what is known and what is not about the role and possible health benefit of calcium and magnesium in drinking-water. | ||
| Water Protocol calendar for 2009 | |
| Key Protocol dates and related events | ||
| Programme for the Assessment and Control of Pollution in the Mediterranean region (MED POL) | |
| WHO is responsible for the health component of MED POL, focusing on managerial aspects of pollution control and on the implementation of relevant Protocols on marine pollution | ||
| Water and health: closer than you think | |
| Stories and voices from the European Region | ||
In the European Region, 120 million people do not have access to safe drinking-water, and even more lack access to sanitation, resulting in waterborne diseases such as diarrhoeal diseases, hepatitis A and typhoid fever (170,000 estimated cases in 2006). Microbial contamination has been recognized as the prime concern throughout the European Region. Chemical pollution is localized but may also have a significant impact on health.
New and emerging pathogens, such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium and some chemicals, pose additional challenges in the short term. Extreme weather events, such as floods and increased water scarcity, pose challenges for the mid-term future.
WHO/Europe assists its Member States in reducing ill health from water-related diseases by:
The programme also collaborates with WHO headquarters in developing, revising and updating manuals and guidelines.
