WHO International Scheme to Evaluate Household Water Treatment Technologies

Transcription

1 WHO International Scheme to Evaluate Household Water Treatment Technologies Water & Health Conference University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill October 13-17, 2014

2 Basis for Scheme Household Water Treatment Implementable, cost-effective approach to improved water quality WHO and UNICEF identified as a key preventative component in diarrhea control strategies. May play an important role in protecting public health where existing water sources are untreated, not treated properly, or become contaminated during distribution or storage. Important interim solution for: Billions without access to safe and reliable drinking-water Requires optimal choice, consistent and correct use by at-risk populations

3 How to make an optimal choice? Technologies: Physical removal (filtration, adsorption, sedimentation) Chemical (chlorine, iodine, silver) Disinfection by heat (boiling, pasteurization) Ultraviolet (UV) radiation Solar disinfection Combination Emerging technologies Options! Options! Options!

4 Basis for Scheme Locally relevant performance specifications needed for decision-making for selection of technologies or approaches Information is not always available To realize health gains associated with HWT HWT technologies must sufficiently reduce pathogens to result in significant health gains (They need to work!) Technologies must reach and be consistently and correctly used by the populations most at risk for waterborne disease. WHO Scheme: WHO established an international evaluation scheme for HWT to fill the need for rigorous health-based assessments of HWT technologies

5 Why a WHO International Scheme? Many countries do not have the capacity to evaluate HWT based on WHO recommendations Ensures criteria are appropriately adopted Effective mechanism to build national capacity WHO, global authority on public health Precedence: WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme, WHO Evaluation of Rapid Malaria Diagnostic Tests

6 WHO Recommendations (WHO, 2011) First document that sets forth global criteria to evaluate microbiological performance of HWT options. WHO Administration approved a Scheme to Evaluate Household Water Treatment (HWT) Technologies (December 2012) The Scheme

7 WHO Recommendations and the Scheme Objectives: Promote and coordinate independent and consistent testing for the evaluation of household water treatment products based on WHO criteria Support national governments building technical capacity of research and laboratory institutions; especially in applying WHO Guidelines on Drinking-water Quality. Aim: Guide WHO Member States and procuring UN agencies in the selection of technologies and support national governments in evaluation related functions.

8 Scheme Components Tiered approach WHO HWT: Series of health-based performance targets which allows for incremental improvements Highly protective: 10-6 DALY/person/year Protective: 10-4 DALY/person/year Limited protection: Meets protective for two classes of pathogens Based on Disability-Adjusted Life year (DALY) Target pathogens: viruses, bacteria and protozoa

9 Basis for assessing performance Rating Highly protective (10-6 DALYs/ P/yr) Protective Log 10 reduction: bacteria Log 10 reduction: viruses Log 10 reduction protozoa (10-4 DALYs/ P/yr) Limited protection Achieves protective target for two classes of pathogens

10 Scheme Components Designated test facility Criteria: Two currently designated: NSF (USA) and KWR (Netherlands) Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) Technical advisors to the Scheme Harmonized and technology specific test protocols HarmonizedTestProtocol.pdf?ua=1

11 Scheme Procedure Invitation for expression of interest Manufacturers to submit detailed information on product Round 1 EOI - March 2014 WHO screening of dossiers WHO will review with input from the Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) and determine which products are eligible for testing Round 1 screening - completed Testing Product specific test plans, based on harmonized test protocol, developed by laboratories in consultation with manufacturers Round 1 testing - underway

12 Scheme Procedure Testing Results and Reporting Laboratory will report results to WHO WHO, with advice from IAC, will determine level of performance Summary of results posted on WHO website Round 1 data review - initiated October 2014 Use of Information Manufacturers can discretely list performance level achieved in technical material addressed to water and health professionals May not use WHO name or logo in any manner Maintenance Manufacturers must update WHO on changes in product and/or manufacturing

13 Scheme Procedure Special Considerations Abbreviated review for products with existing data Must demonstrate testing in-line with WHO recommendations Will undergo review of existing data May require some additional testing Subsidized cost Subsidy subject to availability of funds Criteria: size and capital resources of manufacturer, origin/ location of manufacturer, local need for HWT, cost/liter treated water delivered

14 Challenges and Conclusion Starting simple; 2 laboratories and technically advanced protocols Future work on simplifying protocols and building national laboratory capacity Linking evaluation to new and innovative products WHO/ M Montgomery Optimizing performance in tandem with achieving consistent and correct use HWT only has health impact if used consistently and correctly by at-risk populations!

15 More information Tuesday 8:30-10:00 AM Sunflower WHO International Scheme to Evaluate Household Water Treatment Technologies Scheme Webpage: Nikki Beetsch Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health World Health Organization or