FAO: One Health approach can advance public health through better water management

Challenges related to water, sanitation and health are multifaceted. However, resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems – coupled with the One Health approach – can provide the right framework for safeguarding public health.

This was the main message from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at the Seventh session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health in Budapest, Hungary, in early November. It was delivered by Raimund Jehle, FAO Regional Programme Leader, during the high-level segment of the session, which was marking the twentieth anniversary of the protocol’s entry into force.

The session on 5 November brought together ministers and other key actors to reflect on two decades of progress in water, sanitation and health and to chart a path forward amid increasingly complex challenges.

“Resilient WASH systems are a cornerstone of health security,” Jehle emphasized. “They reduce the spread of water-borne diseases, safeguard food production and hygiene, and protect communities during crises – from pandemics to climate shocks.”

Jehle underscored that the protocol remains the only legally binding instrument linking water management and public health outcomes.

Currently, water pollution, climate change and water stress in food production are among the most pressing issues requiring strong responses to reinforce WASH systems.

In Europe and Central Asia, more than 20 percent of surface water and nearly 30 percent of groundwater remain polluted, Jehle told the audience. Climate change is intensifying droughts and floods, disrupting both water supply and sanitation. The situation is particularly acute in Central Asia, where high water stress – exceeding 70 percent – coincides with ageing irrigation infrastructure and weak wastewater management, directly affecting public health, nutrition and livelihoods.

Launched earlier this year, FAO’s Europe and Central Asia Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2024 highlights water security as a catalyst for transforming the region’s food and agricultural sectors. The report provides deep analysis of the links between water and food production.

One Health and the way forward

FAO calls for the application of the One Health approach – an integrated framework that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and nature – in helping connect water, agriculture and ecosystems.

As chair of the Regional One Health Coordination Mechanism for Europe, FAO supports countries in integrating WASH, pollution control and food safety into national policies and in monitoring the risks of zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance at the water–food–animal interface. The Organization also promotes investments in climate-resilient and low-pollution water systems that sustain both people’s health and livelihoods.

Looking ahead, Jehle outlined in his statement four actions to safeguard the continuity and safety of water, sanitation and hygiene services.

First, networks for water quality and biomonitoring (the assessment of environmental contamination or pollution measured by the accumulation of chemicals in tissues) should be expanded, he said. Second, wastewater treatment and the safe reuse of treated water in agriculture should be upgraded. Jehle also encouraged countries to invest in joint early warning systems and the sharing of quality data. Finally, he stated that the health, water, environment and agricultural sectors should collaborate in an integrated manner.

“By working together, we can ensure that every drop of safe water supports human, animal and ecosystem health,” Jehle concluded, “advancing FAO’s vision of better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all.”

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The session was organized and hosted by Hungary in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. The overall aim is to adopt a strategy for implementing the protocol and a programme of work for 2026–2028 with a focus on strengthening the resilience of the water and sanitation sectors.