The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) calls for“Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030”. Access to safe and affordable clean drinking water is essential for the survival and development of rural residents and families in Lancang-Mekong region. In recent years, Lancang-Mekong countries have continued to make many efforts in the area of rural water safety. In order to promote practical cooperation and capacity building in the area of drinking water safety among the six countries of Lancang-Mekong region, the Asian Cooperation Fund project “Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Project : Demonstration of Rural Water Supply Safety Technology in Lancang-Mekong Countries has been launched. The project team has compiled Manual on Drinking Water Safety Knowledge to raise awareness of safe drinking water among rural communities in the Lancang-Mekong countries and enhance the capacity of the relevant water sectors in water supply construction and management while carrying out demonstration projects of rural drinking water safety.

Manual on Drinking Water Safety Knowledge is available in Chinese, Lao, Cambodian and Myanmar, and features the cartoon character “An An”popularizing the basic knowledge of drinking water safety and health, introducing drinking water sources, drinking water purification and disinfection, and water supply construction and management, etc., in an illustrative manner.

The manual is designed to raise the awareness of residents and managers of water sectors in the Mekong countries about drinking water safety, popularize scientific knowledge of water use and share participatory management methods of community water supply. The manual consists of 5 chapters and 26 sections, including Drinking Water Safety and Health, Drinking Water Sources, Purification and Disinfection of Drinking Water, Water Supply Systems and Projects, and Operation and Management of Water Supply Projects.

The manual aims to raise awareness of drinking water safety among residents and water supply authorities in Lancang-Mekong countries, share each other's successful experiences, and work together to improve the regional water supply governance capacity and enhance people's well-being.

Cover and catalogue of the Drinking Water Safety Knowledge Manual (Chinese and Lao versions)