Safe Household Water Storage

A core element of the Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage approach promoted worldwide by the World Health Organization for households that lack piped drinking water, addressing the fact that water can become contaminated inside its storage container even after being drawn safely, through contact with dirty hands, cups or other utensils. The World Health Organization identifies storage containers with a narrow opening or dispenser as key to preventing this recontamination, since a narrow opening keeps hands and utensils from directly touching the stored water. Safe storage only protects health when paired with water that was already clean at its source or has been properly treated beforehand, and the combined practice is aimed at reducing waterborne illness, especially diarrheal disease, among people who rely on water sources outside a municipal piped system.