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Research Managing Director

Area on Water Management
The Area on Water Management promotes research in the area of crisis management, with a view to preventing the occurrence or escalation of incidents involving the drinking water supply that threaten health safety. Current studies include: (1) research regarding how an emergency water supply system should be structured, and how water should be stored hygienically so that even when a major earthquake or heavy rainfall has occurred, medical services provided by hospitals that serve as bases in case of disaster, along with other services such as dialysis providers, won’t be aff ected; (2) research on developing measures (and monitoring methods) to reduce radioactive substances in the water supply when there has been an accident involving a nuclear plant; (3) research on watershed management, assessing health risks from drinking water contaminated with chemical substances or microbes; (4) research on developing a new water treatment techniques; and (5) research on developing an integrated water quality management plan that covers the whole system from the water source to the individual outlet. With all those eff orts, we are contributing to the government’s decision-making process regarding both administrative standards and technical guidelines for water supplies.
Also, as the WHO Collaborating Center for Community Water Supply and Sanitation, we are making eff orts to improve water and hygiene in developing countries. Finally, we are playing a major role as the coordinator of the WHO Operation and Maintenance Network (O & M Network) for Drinking Water Supply Facilities in collaboration with the International Water Association (IWA).Water Management