ISO Focus - January 2009

Water – The vital challenge

ISO Focus, January 2009

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Access to safe water is recognized as a basic human right. Yet, while part of the world’s population takes its supply of on-tap water and sanitation services for granted, millions of people must work hard to secure it. Still others are entirely deprived of this basic right.

The world’s water resources are not unlimited. Conservation, wise use and a conscious effort to avoid pollution are essential to reach the goal of vital access to good quality water for all.

So how can we better manage this life-giving resource? ISO Focus begins the New Year by highlighting the work of technical committees who dedicate effort to this vital subject.

From the standardized vocabularies and methods for sampling, measuring and testing, developed by ISO/TC 147, Water quality, to International Standards for drinking and wastewater services, drinking water supplies during crises, groundwater contamination, irrigation, drainage, pollution in the marine environment, and others.

The January issue of ISO Focus gives an insight into this work and the contribution that international standardization makes towards meeting this vital challenge.

Comment

Alan Bryden
ISO Secretary-General (2003-2008)
Water at the top of the world agenda

Guest view

Loïc Fauchon
President, World Water Council

“A number of international standardization projects coincide with the objectives of the WWC.”

Main Focus

Water – The vital challenge

• ISO standards and the Protocol on Water and Health
• Improving water and wastewater services
• A developing country water utility leads the way with ISO 24510
• In pursuit of purity
• Avoiding the worst – Safe drinking water during crises (IWA 6)
• Protecting a valuable resource – Groundwater
• Enabling sustainability, management and conservation of water resources – The science of hydrometry
• Improving quality of life with plastics piping systems
• In the forefront – Efficient metering for water conservation
• Effective irrigation – Achieving sustainability and performance
• When silence means survival – Protecting the marine ecosystem from underwater irradiated noise

Developments and Initiatives

• Promoting confidence in goods and services – CASCO holds its 24th plenary. Market surveillance at the forefront (CASCO workshop). CASCO toolbox – Building block for new workshop.
• Latin America tackles food safety

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• Performance of protective clothing

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