Water quality
In the context of FAO's work, water quality refers to the condition of surface water and groundwater bodies in relation to pollution levels, assessed through their compliance with environmental standards for good ambient water quality and addressed through reductions in pollution, improved wastewater management and the safe reuse of wastewater, including for agricultural purposes where appropriate. Quality is defined by certain physical, chemical and biological characteristics.
Agriculture both depends on and contributes to water quality challenges. Across agricultural landscapes, water is both a productive input and a carrier of risks. FAO works to fulfill its mandate to support countries, in collaboration with UN and non-UN partners, as they monitor, assess and mitigate water quality risks in agrifood systems. This work includes:
- addressing both the water used as an input for agricultural production and the impacts of agricultural activities; and
- promoting integrated approaches that link water quality with public health, environmental sustainability and food safety, an approach in line with the One Health framework.
These activities are also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
FAO's work on water quality management
FAO promotes a comprehensive set of water quality solutions to reduce pollution risks at source, enhance safe water use and restore ecosystem functions across agrifood systems. In particular, the Organization supports the sustainable use of non-conventional water resources – such as treated wastewater and saline water – guided by risk-based management approaches to ensure safe application in agriculture.
Improved nutrient management practices, including precision fertilization and integrated soil–water management, help minimize runoff and nutrient losses. Nature-based solutions – such as wetland restoration, riparian buffer zones and constructed wetlands – play a critical role in filtering pollutants and improving water retention.
In parallel, FAO supports innovative financing and policy instruments to incentivize better water stewardship, including Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), and water quality trading programmes. Together, these solutions contribute to reducing pollution risks, enhancing water productivity and supporting resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.
FAO is developing technical tools to monitor water and soil quality at the watershed level, integrating field data, modelling and satellite imagery. In addition, geospatial technologies can offer remote sensing applications to link water quality with water productivity and land management. These tools support countries in tracking SDG indicators related to water quality while enabling baseline assessments, the identification of priority areas and informing project design, implementation, evaluation and investment planning.
FAO’s work on water quality governance, in partnership with stakeholders such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), focuses on developing tools (e.g. context-specific quality standards, guidelines on water treatment and reuse, environmental impact assessments and monitoring systems) and on strengthening regulatory frameworks and institutional capacities for effective water quality management and pollution control.
FAO promotes a comprehensive set of water quality solutions to reduce pollution risks at source, enhance safe water use and restore ecosystem functions across agrifood systems. In particular, the Organization:
- supports the sustainable use of non-conventional water resources – such as treated wastewater and saline water – guided by risk-based management approaches to ensure safe application in agriculture;
- Improved nutrient management practices, including precision fertilization and integrated soil–water management, help minimize runoff and nutrient losses;
- nature-based solutions – such as wetland restoration, riparian buffer zones and constructed wetlands – play a critical role in filtering pollutants and improving water retention.
In parallel, FAO supports innovative financing and policy instruments to incentivize better water stewardship, including Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), and water quality trading programmes.
Together, these solutions contribute to reducing pollution risks, enhancing water productivity and supporting resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.
FAO is developing technical tools to monitor water and soil quality at the watershed level, integrating field data, modelling and satellite imagery. In addition, geospatial technologies can offer remote sensing applications to link water quality with water productivity and land management. These tools support countries in tracking SDG indicators related to water quality while enabling baseline assessments, the identification of priority areas and informing project design, implementation, evaluation and investment planning.
FAO’s work on water quality governance, in partnership with stakeholders such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), focuses on developing tools (e.g. context-specific quality standards, guidelines on water treatment and reuse, environmental impact assessments and monitoring systems) and on strengthening regulatory frameworks and institutional capacities for effective water quality management and pollution control.
