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).