WASH in emergencies: the basics
Water, sanitation and hygiene in emergencies: Sphere water quantity and access indicators, hygiene promotion, community involvement and common field mistakes.
Short answer
WASH means water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion. In emergencies, Sphere asks that people have safe, equitable access to enough water, with at least 15 litres per person per day, a water point within 500 metres and queues under 30 minutes. Pair facilities with hygiene promotion, involve the community, and check quality, because good use of facilities protects health most.
Key points
- WASH covers water, sanitation and hygiene promotion together.
- Sphere indicators: 15 litres per person per day, 500 metres, 30 minutes.
- Numbers are signals; adapt to climate, culture and phase.
- Hygiene promotion needs two-way communication, not only messages.
- Treat water at risk times and prevent contamination after delivery.
What does WASH include?
WASH stands for water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion. The Sphere chapter on WASH says the aim of any WASH programme is to promote good personal and environmental hygiene to protect health. It lists seven sections: hygiene promotion, water supply, excreta disposal, vector control, solid waste management and drainage, under the overall WASH heading.
The key message of the chapter is that an effective programme relies on an exchange of information between the agency and the affected population, to identify hygiene problems and culturally appropriate solutions. Using facilities well and practising safe hygiene gives the greatest public health impact.
What do the Sphere water indicators say?
Sphere's first water supply standard says all people have safe and equitable access to sufficient water for drinking, cooking and personal and domestic hygiene, and public water points are close enough to allow use of the minimum requirement. In the 2011 edition we reviewed, the key indicators are:
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Average water use for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene | At least 15 litres per person per day |
| Maximum distance from any household to the nearest water point | 500 metres |
| Queueing time at a water source | No more than 30 minutes |
The guidance explains that basic survival water needs vary: 2.5 to 3 litres per day for intake, 2 to 6 litres for basic hygiene and 3 to 6 litres for cooking, giving a total of 7.5 to 15 litres per day. Needs depend on climate, habits, food and cultural practices. Sphere also notes that the standard is not just the number: the 15 litres figure is an indicator under a broader standard.
For quality, the standard asks you to carry out a rapid sanitary survey, to minimise contamination after delivery and, for piped supplies or at times of risk of diarrhoeal epidemics, to treat water with disinfectant so that residual chlorine is 0.5 mg per litre and turbidity is below 5 NTU at the tap. Check the current edition and national rules before you set targets.
Why hygiene promotion matters
The chapter defines hygiene promotion as a planned, systematic approach that enables people to take action to prevent water, sanitation and hygiene-related disease. It rests on three factors: sharing information and knowledge, mobilising communities, and providing essential materials and facilities. Sphere recommends interactive methods rather than only mass messages. It can also give a practical way to involve communities and monitor the programme.
How to plan a small WASH response: six steps
- Assess. Identify water sources, use and quality, existing latrines and hygiene practices. Ask women and girls about safety and privacy at water points and latrines.
- Choose sources. Sphere says groundwater or gravity-flow springs are usually preferable because they need less treatment and no pumping. A mix of sources is often needed early on. Monitor sources to avoid overuse.
- Plan access. Place water points and latrines where people can reach them safely, including at night and for people with disabilities.
- Protect quality. Test or survey the source, promote safe storage and, when risk is high, treat water.
- Run hygiene promotion. Hold small group discussions and demonstrations. Distribute soap and containers as needed. See shelter and non-food items for hygiene items.
- Monitor and adjust. Check queues, use, breakdowns and feedback. Fix problems quickly and tell users what you did.
Myanmar context
Floods, cyclones and displacement can contaminate sources and overload shared facilities. In remote or hard-to-reach areas, local committees often maintain water points, so training and spare parts matter more than one-time construction. WASH is one of the clusters in the 2026 Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, so coordinate with the sub-national coordination structure before you start, to avoid duplication and to share what you find. See how humanitarian coordination works in Myanmar.
Common mistakes
- Building facilities with no hygiene promotion.
- Placing latrines or water points where women and girls feel unsafe.
- Counting taps or latrines without checking use and queues.
- Ignoring maintenance, spare parts and who pays for repairs.
- Using one-way messages only.
How EMPO can help
EMPO is a trusted, Myanmar-based training and consultancy provider and one of the country's leading names in practical NGO training, with 1,200+ people trained and 15 partner organisations. We train teams on the Sphere standards, in English and Burmese, online or in person across Myanmar. See our training services or contact us to plan a session.
Sources
- Minimum standards in Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion — Sphere Project, 2011
- Sphere Standards: Standard 1, Water Supply — Sphere
- Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2026 — OCHA, 2025
Questions people ask
Is 15 litres per person per day a maximum?
No. It is a minimum average for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene, and guidance says it can be exceeded where local standards are higher. In the acute phase of some crises a lower figure may be used for a short time.
Why is hygiene promotion part of WASH?
Facilities alone do not protect health. Hygiene promotion helps people use and maintain facilities and take action to prevent water, sanitation and hygiene-related diseases.
Who should we coordinate with on WASH?
Join your local WASH cluster or sector group where one exists, and agree common minimums with other WASH actors so communities in the same area receive similar services.