ISO, the independent international organization with a membership of 162 national standards bodies, has released a new video describing how ISO standards are contributing to meeting global water challenges to coincide with World Water Day this week.

According to UN Water, almost half the world's workforce – 1.5 billion people – is employed in water-related sectors and nearly all jobs depend on water and those that ensure its safe delivery. However, the millions of people who work in water are often not recognized or protected by basic labour rights.

World Water Day took place on Tuesday this week under the theme of “Better water, better jobs”.

More than 700 ISO standards provide global tools to help countries manage shared water resources equitably and durably. They facilitate sustainable water management and increase water potential, helping to alleviate water scarcity.

To achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 on availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation by 2030, we will have to improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.

ISO says standards have a key role to play in achieving the goals - many new ISO standards are currently under development in the field of water, including:

• ISO/TS 24520 - Service activities relating to drinking water supply systems and wastewater systems -Crisis management -- Good practice for technical aspects
• ISO 24526 -Water efficiency management systems -- Requirements with guidance for use
• ISO 24521 - Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services -- Guidelines for the management of basic onsite domestic wastewater services
• ISO 20325 - Service activities relating to drinking water supply and wastewater systems -- Guidelines for stormwater management in urban areas
• ISO/TS 24524, Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services -- Technical specifications for flushable products
• ISO/TS 24522, Water quality event detection process: Guidelines for water and wastewater utilities
• ISO 20670, Water reuse -Terminology

Click here to visit the ISO website to find out more about water standards in action

Click here for an overview of ISO's water standards and solutions for addressing vital global water challenges and how they can help.

Click here to watch the ISO video on the Waterbriefing Watch channel.