Closing the water quality gap
Safely managed drinking water requires action at the point of use: CAWST reports
Recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), the WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), and United Nations (UN) Water show that safely managed drinking water is not on track globally to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.1: universal access to safely managed drinking water.
Water quality often declines between source and consumption due to contamination during transport, storage, and handling.
Drawing on these reports, a new CAWST evidence brief (white paper) highlights household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS) as a proven, complementary approach to protecting drinking water quality at the point of use.
Download the CAWST white paper and supporting documents
Key findings
Progress toward safely managed drinking water is off track
At the current rate of progress, around 2 billion people may still lack safely managed drinking water by 2030, according to the JMP.
Water quality often declines between source and consumption
Even when water comes from improved or on-premises sources, contamination frequently occurs during transport, storage, and handling, meaning water is often less safe at the point of use than at the point of collection.
Household water treatment is recognized as part of the service continuum
Recent WHO guidance positions HWTS as a complementary, evidence-based approach that helps address water quality risks where centralized systems cannot yet deliver consistent safe water.
Why this matters now
The global water safety gap remains large
Despite progress in access to basic drinking water services, global monitoring shows that safely managed drinking water remains out of reach for billions of people. Current projections suggest that around 2 billion people may still lack safely managed drinking water by 2030 if progress continues at the present rate.
Water safety often breaks down inside the home
Evidence from household water quality surveys shows that contamination frequently occurs between the point of collection and the point of consumption, especially during transport, storage, and handling. This means that even improved or on-premises water supplies do not always guarantee safe water at the point of use. Evidence for HWTS white paper -…
Protecting water at the household level reduces health risks
Multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses show that household water treatment can significantly reduce the risk of diarrhoeal disease. Point-of-use filtration, solar treatment, and chlorination have all been shown to reduce diarrhoea risk, often at levels comparable to other widely accepted WASH interventions. Evidence for HWTS white paper -…
Global guidance is evolving to reflect this evidence
Recent WHO guidance recognizes household water treatment and safe storage as part of the broader drinking water service continuum. Integrating point-of-use water quality management alongside infrastructure investments can help close the gap between water access and water safety.
Why water quality fails at the point of use
Even when drinking water is collected from an improved source, it does not always remain safe until it is consumed. Water quality often declines between the point of collection and the point of use due to contamination during transport, storage, and handling. As a result, water that is safe at the source can become unsafe by the time it is consumed.
Several common factors contribute to this gap between water access and water safety:
Transport and collection practices
Water may be carried long distances in containers that are not fully clean, allowing microorganisms to enter during collection and transport.
Household storage conditions
Water is often stored for hours or days before consumption. Without safe storage containers or protection from contact, contamination can occur during storage.
Handling and serving practices
Water may be repeatedly accessed using cups, ladles, or hands, introducing bacteria even when the original source water was clean.
Intermittent or unreliable water services
Where piped systems are unreliable, households often store water as a coping strategy, increasing the likelihood of contamination before drinking.
Protecting drinking water therefore requires attention not only to infrastructure, but also to how water is managed inside the household.
What recent global reports show
Recent global analyses from the WHO, JMP, UN-Water, and the World Bank highlight persistent gaps in safely managed drinking water and reinforce the importance of addressing water quality at the point of use.
WHO drinking-water guidance
Recent WHO publications recognize household water treatment and safe storage as part of the broader drinking water service continuum. This guidance acknowledges that protecting water quality at the household level can play an important role where centralized systems cannot consistently deliver safe drinking water.
JMP global monitoring data
Global monitoring shows that no region is currently on track to achieve universal access to safely managed drinking water by 2030 and achieving SDG6 goals. While access to basic water services is widespread, contamination at the point of use remains a major barrier to achieving safely managed services.
UN-Water GLAAS report
Countries continue to report major constraints in human resources, institutional capacity, and financing for water services. These limitations are particularly acute in rural areas, informal settlements, and fragile contexts where safe water delivery systems are hardest to maintain.
World Bank financing analysis
Meeting global water security goals will require major increases in investment in water infrastructure and services. These findings reinforce the need for complementary approaches that can protect health while long-term systems continue to expand.
Together, these reports highlight a clear challenge: improving access to water infrastructure alone does not guarantee safe drinking water. Addressing water quality risks at the point of use remains an essential part of the solution.
CAWST is helping solve this problem
Addressing the gap between water access and water safety requires practical solutions that strengthen both infrastructure and household-level water quality management. CAWST works globally to support organizations, practitioners, and institutions in implementing effective household water treatment and safe storage as part of broader drinking water strategies.
Building local capacity for safe water solutions
CAWST provides technical training, consulting, and practical resources that help organizations strengthen their ability to implement safe water programs. By equipping local practitioners with knowledge and tools, this approach supports sustainable water safety solutions that can be adapted to local contexts.
Translating global evidence into practical action
CAWST synthesizes research and global guidance to help governments, NGOs, and practitioners apply evidence-based approaches to water safety. Through technical guidance, sector collaboration, and knowledge sharing, CAWST helps bridge the gap between research findings and real-world implementation.
Strengthening the global community of practice
Through training programs, practitioner networks, and open-access learning resources, CAWST connects organizations around the world working to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene. This global community supports shared learning and strengthens the implementation of household water treatment and safe storage.
Supporting practical solutions that work alongside infrastructure
Household water treatment is not a replacement for long-term water infrastructure. Instead, it provides an important complementary approach that helps protect drinking water quality where systems are still developing, unreliable, or vulnerable to contamination.
What needs to happen next
Reaching universal safely managed drinking water will require multiple complementary approaches working together. Strengthening water infrastructure remains essential, but protecting water quality at the point of use is also necessary to reduce health risks where contamination persists.
Several practical steps can help accelerate progress:
Integrate point-of-use water quality management into national strategies
Governments and sector leaders can incorporate household water treatment and safe storage into drinking water policies, water safety planning, and monitoring frameworks so that water quality at the point of use is addressed alongside infrastructure development.
Recognize decentralized approaches as complementary solutions
Household water treatment should be formally recognized as a legitimate component of water service delivery, particularly in rural areas, informal settlements, fragile contexts, and locations where centralized systems remain unreliable or incomplete.
Strengthen programs that support correct and consistent use
Evidence shows that household water treatment is most effective when technologies are accessible, affordable, and used consistently. Programs that support training, behavior change, and appropriate technology selection are critical for achieving health impacts.
Support investment in both long-term systems and near-term protection
Infrastructure expansion is essential for long-term water security. At the same time, point-of-use water quality management can provide faster protection from contamination risks while systems continue to expand and improve.
CAWST is here to support your work
To better understand how our training, resources, and partnerships are supporting your work, we invite you to participate in the annual CAWST survey.
For more information on the survey, email us at cawst@cawst.org.
Publications referenced in this CAWST evidence brief / white paper:
Compendium of drinking water systems and technologies from source to consumer - WHO 2025 - https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240113992
Guidelines for drinking-water quality: Small water supplies - WHO, 2024 - https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088740
Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene - JMP, 2025 - https://washdata.org/reports/jmp-2025-wash-households
Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water - UN-Water, 2025 - https://www.unwater.org/news/un-water-glaas-2025-report
Funding a Water-Secure Future, 2024 - World Bank - https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/publication/funding-a-water-secure-future
How to provide safe water to millions of people by 2030 - World Economic Forum - 2021 - https://www.weforum.org/stories/2021/10/how-to-provide-safe-water-to-billions-of-people-by-2030/
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