The International Network to Promote Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) has expanded from 20 to more than 70 participating institutions, many from developing countries. HWTS and the Network have also been included in influential reports such as the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme 2005 report, and the MDG Task Force Reports. These were some of the Network’s achievements over the past year, which were highlighted at its 3rd annual meeting held from 30-31 May 2005, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Workshop presentations covering scaling-up of HWTS, HWTS in emergencies, physical treatment (such as ceramic filters), household perceptions, behavioural change, and arsenic and fluoride removal have been posted online.

The Network’s priorities for the coming year include an on-line clearinghouse of information, fact sheets including one on the costs and benefits of HWTS, a framework to better understand behavioural change and social factors, protocols to verify technologies (led by WHO), inexpensive tools to assess water quality, and HWTS promotion. SANDEC is leading an initiative on "large-scale HWTS projects". The Network and Fundación SODIS are co-organising a Latin American regional workshop on HWTS from 6-7 October in Quito, Ecuador – see http://www.fundacionsodis.org/.

Website: WHO - The International Network to Promote Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage -

Contact: hhwater@who.int

Tags: water quality