Although some aspects of water quality and supply have improved in some countries over the last decade, progress has been variable. Renewed emphasis is being placed on microbial quality and the acknowledgement of previously unrecognized and re-emerging microbial and other hazards. Many of the suggested solutions are as applicable today as they were a decade ago. However, major changes in administrative arrangements affected many countries in Europe in the 1990s, including the supply of water and sanitation services, land-use activities, pollution control and activities related to public health surveillance. The 21st century will present a number of challenges to the aquatic environment. A coordinated approach to data collection, processing and management in Europe to support decision-making and improve the reliability of environmental information will be essential to meet these challenges. This publication is aimed to present the key issues related to water and health in a format that can be appreciated by policy-makers, professionals and the general public alike.