The second session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health adopted the Guidance on Water Supply and Sanitation in Extreme Events.
25 November 2010: The second session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health, which convened from 23-25 November 2010, in Bucharest, Romania, adopted the Guidance on Water Supply and Sanitation in Extreme Events.
The Guidance, available in English and Russian, was developed under the leadership of Italy and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe. Edited by Roger Aertgeerts and Luciana Sinisi, it is intended to provide an overview on why and how adaptation policies should consider the vulnerability of, and new risk elements for, health and environment arising from water services management during adverse weather episodes. It recalls the basic scientific findings, provides advice on communication issues, addresses the vulnerability of coastal areas and bathing waters, discusses the impact on human health, places extreme weather events in the context of water safety plans, and formulates advice for adaptation measures for water supply and sanitation services during such events.
The Meeting of the Parties to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Protocol on Water and Health also discussed how to promote its implementation, notably through the exchange of experience, capacity building and training and by developing decision-support tools to balance new water resources with quality needs.
It should be seen together with the Guidance on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change, which was developed under the UNECE Water Convention and adopted by its parties in 2009. The Guidance on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change describes step-by-step how to develop an adaptation strategy in the water area and especially in transboundary basins. [Guidance on Water Supply and Sanitation in Extreme Events] [Second Session of the Meeting of the Parties Website] [Guidance on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change]