The Task Force on Extreme Weather Events, mostly supported by WHO-EURO, was established at the First Session of the Meeting of the Parties (2007) with the mandate to facilitate sharing of experience on good practices regarding the safe operation of water supply and sanitation facilities in urban and rural areas that are subject to the impact of short-term critical situations, and to prepare guidance to respond to such situations.

The draft guidance on water supply and sanitation in extreme weather events was developed by the Task Force under the leadership of Italy and adopted by the Meeting of the Parties during its Second Session (23-25 November, Bucharest, Romania).

The Meeting of the Parties entrusted Italy with the mandate of promoting and supporting the use of the Guidance on water supply and sanitation in extreme weather events, notably through the exchange of experience, capacity-building and training.