English Version of the Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB 5749-2022) Officially Released

As an important technical regulation for the Healthy China initiative and a key achievement in the modernization of public health governance, the English version of the Standards for Drinking Water Quality fully and accurately presents all technical indicators and management requirements of the original standard. It also sets out, in a systematic way, China’s full-chain hygiene management system for drinking water, from source to tap. The standard applies to various water supply settings in both urban and rural areas. Its contents cover water quality requirements for drinking water, requirements for source water quality, hygiene requirements for centralized water supply units, hygiene requirements for secondary water supply, hygiene requirements for products related to drinking water safety, and water quality testing methods. It also includes a complete English rendering of the appendices, including reference indicators and limit values for drinking water quality. Together, these elements provide the global sector with a Chinese technical model that is replicable, adaptable and ready for wider application.

The release of the English version builds a professional bridge for mutual exchange and recognition between Chinese and international drinking water standard systems. It is also a concrete step to strengthen the foundation of public health cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative through soft connectivity through standards. The English version provides regulatory authorities, international organizations, research institutions, and enterprises involved in products related to drinking water hygiene and safety with an authoritative, accurate, and accessible tool for understanding China’s standards. It will also help bring China’s management experience, technical equipment, and research outcomes in drinking water safety to a wider international audience at a faster pace. As public health cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative continues to deepen, and as the Global Development Initiative is further implemented, the standard will help partner countries improve their capacity to ensure drinking water safety. It will also contribute Chinese expertise and practical solutions to improving global drinking water quality, while showing China’s responsibility and technical leadership in safeguarding drinking water safety worldwide.