The IWA Specialist Group “Metals and Related Substances in Drinking Water (METRELS)” has a mission to work for an improved control of metals and related substances in drinking water systems and to contribute to human health and well-being of the society. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 17 dedicated goals, 169 targets and 232 indicators is looking forward to transform our world in a relatively short span of 15 years. These SDGs make up a comprehensive framework, and demands a systematic approach with robust capabilities in terms of integrating technology, human resource capacity and managing the financial resources. The SDG 6 addresses the water and sanitation goal, with key targets to provide universal access to safe water and sanitation service delivery, management of wastewater, water quality and control of pollution, water use efficiency and integrated water resources management and protecting the aquatic ecosystems.
The growing focus on scaling up the access to safe drinking water needs a holistic approach that needs systems disruptive innovations to measure and monitor the water sources, treatment facilities to ensure safe, reliable and affordable services to the stakeholders. Water Safety Plan designed by the WHO in 2005 as an instrument to ensure the safety of a drinking-water supply most effectively and consistently with a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach that encompasses each step in water supply from catchment to consumer. There is a growing need for technology innovation for drinking water programs, which involve on those ideas and frames the business case for water technology innovation; identifies “market opportunities” specifically for solving the drinking water challenges through developing digital tools for assessment and monitoring of water quality, and robust set of actions for technology innovation for clean and safe water.
The SG-METRELS is also actively engaged with activities linked with the IWA Strategic Plans directed towards the implementation of Water Wise Cities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Aligned with the strategic plans of the IWA, this Sprinter Meeting we have an ambition to focus our discussions on:
• Mapping the water sources on a digital platform “ASMITAS” for metals and metalloids in drinking water sources at catchment scale –quality and risks
• Platform for Technology to develop best practice for drinking water treatment
• Potential avenues for transfer and dissemination of knowledge – bridging the gaps in safe drinking water access.
• Sharing practitioner experiences across cross-sectoral stakeholders such as water, environmental health and socio-economic impacts
• Critical determinants for implementing the digital platform for drinking water safety plan from a complex inter-disciplinary perspective.

Organizer(s): Prosun Bhattacharya (Sweden/Australia), Arslan Ahmad (The Netherlands), Albert van der Wal (The Netherlands), and Md. Jakariya (Bangladesh)