Drinking water

Need

Water is essential to life and health. In emergencies it is often not available in adequate quantity or quality, thus creating a major health hazard.

Aim

To provide enough safe water to refugees and to meet communal needs in the most cost-effective way.

Principles of Response

· Seek expert advice, coordinate closely with the appropriate national service and involve refugees.

· Ensure consideration of water supply needs when a site for a future camp is selected and its development planned. Coordinate response closely with physical planning, public health and environmental sanitation measures.

· Provide a reserve supply and spare capacity, to meet temporary difficulties and the needs of new arrivals.

· Take account of seasonal variations of quantity and quality of water from any source.

· If at all possible, avoid the need to treat water.

Action

· Organize an immediate, competent assessment of water supply possibilities in relation to needs.

· Carry out an inventory of all known water sources, assess them as accurately as possible in terms of their water quality and quantity and make provisions to protect them from pollution.

· Develop sources and a storage and distribution system to supply a sufficient amount of safe water, including a reserve.

· Ensure regular testing of water quality.

· Set up structure for Organization and Maintenance.