WHO to launch new guidelines on safe wastewater use

The World Health Organization (WHO)'s Center for Environmental Health Activities will launch a third edition of its "Guidelines for the Safe Use of Wastewater, Excreta and Greywater" in Amman, the international body said in a statement on Monday.

According to the statement released by the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, the guidelines are of great significance to the region, where most countries are facing severe water shortages and wastewater is increasingly being regarded as an essential source for agriculture.

The guidelines, serving as the basis for development of international and national standards and regulation for managing the use of wastewater and greywater, are intended to maximize public health protection and the beneficial use of them, statement said.

About 35 officials, experts, managers in the field of health, agriculture and wastewater management from 17 Eastern Mediterranean countries, along with WHO experts, will participate in the opening of the "Regional Workshop on Health Aspects of Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture" on Monday in Amman to review and launch the guidelines.

The participants will start to update national standards and regulatory framework and management practices for safe wastewater and greywater use.

They will also review the outcome of a recently completed WHO regional project on wastewater management and reuse implemented in 11 countries in the region, namely Kuwait, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Source: Xinhua