New international Standard for safer water


6 October 2010

A new ISO Standard to help laboratories consistently detect potentially pathogenic salmonella bacteria in water supports the intent of a recent United Nations resolution on safe drinking water as well as one of the UN Millennium Development Goals on the same subject.

Water quality – Detection of Salmonella spp ISO 19250:2010 specifies a method for the detection of salmonella bacteria in water samples.

Salmonella bacteria are widely occurring all over the world. Their pathogenesis varies depending on the species and susceptibility of the host. The natural hosts of salmonellae include humans, agricultural and domestic livestock, and wild animals including birds. Salmonellae may be present in fresh water and sea water.

The UN General Assembly affirms, 'Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights'. According to the United Nations, an estimated 884 million people lack access to safe drinking water and a total of more than 2.6 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation.

ISO 19250 will also help to meet the objectives of one of the UN Millennium Development Goals which targets the reduction by half by 2015 of the proportion of people who cannot reach or afford safe drinking water and sanitation.

Order ISO 19250:2010 Water quality – Detection of Salmonella spp from Standards New Zealand's website www.standards.co.nz, or call 0800 782 632 during business hours, or email enquiries@standards.co.nz.

You can purchase PDFs of ISO Standards from Standards New Zealand by calling 0800 782 632 during business hours or emailing enquiries@standards.co.nz.

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Barbara Crocker
Standards New Zealand
(04) 495 0918
barbara.crocker@standards.co.nz

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