WASH in Emergencies Problem Exploration Report: Water Treatment

The provision of adequate quantities of safe water is a basic necessity in emergencies.

Inadequate provision of clean water is linked to the transmission of infectious diseases including hepatitis E, cholera, and other diarrhoeal diseases. The spread of waterborne pathogens is of particular concern during population displacements, major floods, and faecal-oral disease outbreaks.

Despite the advances that have been made in coordination and professionalisation of water treatment in emergencies, there remain considerable knowledge gaps in field practice. These gaps range from operational concerns, to the lack of evidence-base for commonly applied interventions, to technological limitations.

This report puts forward three key areas which would benefit from innovations and research to improve the provision of safe water in emergency contexts.