After its latest face -to -face meeting in Paris in 2023 and a virtual meeting in 2024 the TC 224 is now preparing and will meet again face-to-face in Toronto (Canada) from 23th to 27th June 2025.
Task Force 1 – Communications
TF1 – Communications ISO TC 224's Communication Task Force continued development of a communications strategy for ISO TC 224 and identified opportunities to promote the work done by the TC during the upcoming meeting. In addition, the continued development of the website is the priority and is proposed to be followed by other communications activities including the development of a new Brochure on the TC.
WG 1 – Terminology
WG 1 – Terminology has begun revising ISO 24513 "Service activities relating to drinking water systems and wastewater systems - terminology", published in 2019, to consider new standards published since its last version. Its publication will be effective at the end of 2027, also taking into account projects currently under development.
WG 6 – Asset Management
WG 6 – Asset Management has published in 2021 ISO 24528 "Service activities relating to drinking water systems and wastewater systems - Guideline for a water loss investigation of drinking water distribution networks". The document describes a procedure to investigate water loss in a drinking water networks. The topic drew experts from all continents on the work table of WG 6, showing that the problem of water losses in distribution systems is a pressing one worldwide. A standardized evaluation and investigation procedure will help water managers to tackle this problem more efficiently and helps to validate and rationalize data sets on water losses.
Another topic in WG6 is the management of assets in water distribution and waste water collection systems. A recently completed series of standards - ISO 24516 – deals with technical requirements to set up an asset management system in a water utility, basically transforming the requirements of ISO 55000 series into the technical and operational aspects of the water sector. WG 6 is now publishing a set of to guide users of the series ISO 24516 by good practical examples on asset management implementation in water utilities, focusing here on the more abstract parts of the standards.
ISO TR 24589-1 "Examples of good parctice for the management of assets of water supply and wastewater systemes - Part 1 Water supply" is already published
and project ISO TR 24589-2 "Examples of good parctice for the management of assets of water supply and wastewater systemes - Part 2: Wastewater system" will be published mid 2025.
Asset management and water loss investigation will remain the main topics of WG6 in the mid-term.
WG 7 – Crisis management of water utilities
WG 7 - Crisis management of water utilities is now developing the project ISO 24599 "Guidelines for the management of mobile toilets under epidemic situations". It should be published before the end of 2025. A new project has recently been register; ISO 25502"Mobile non-sewer-connected toilet cabins - Requirements of services and products relating to the deployment of cabins and sanitary products". This new project come from EN 16194 published in 2023.
WG 8 – Onsite domestic wastewater management
WG 8 – Onsite domestic wastewater management has been revising ISO 24521:2016 "Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services - Guidelines for the management of basic on-site domestic wastewater services" since 2022.
This standard provides guidance for the development and organization of onsite domestic wastewater services. It deals with both basic and advanced technologies, also giving an overview of available solutions for onsite domestic wastewater systems (ODWS).
The revision will include bringing ISO 24521 in line with the contents of newer standard ISO 24525 and will cover additional technologies. The title will be updated to: ISO 24521 "Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services - Guidelines for the management of onsite domestic wastewater services". The revised standard will be published in July 2025.
WG 10 – Flushable Products
WG 10 – Flushable Products published in 2019 ISO 24524 Service activities relating to drinking water supply, wastewater and stormwater systems - Hydraulic, mechanical and environmental conditions in wastewater transport systems was published by February 2019. ISO/TC 224 reactivated WG 10 in 2023 to develop the new project ISO TS "Test methodologies for assessing wet wipes and moist toilet tissue compatibility with yhe wastewater collection and treatment system and appropriate labelling" in order to go one step further and provide user with a recommendations on tests and labelling. This project will be finalized by the end of 2025.
WG 15 – Smart Water Management
WG 15 – Smart Water Management has published two standards:
ISO 24591-1Smart water management - part 1: General guidelines and governance
ISO 24591-2Smart water management - part 2: Data management guidelines
WG 15 is now developing a set of technical reports (ISO TR 25371) to illustrate by good practical examples implementation of this ISO 24591 series in water utilities. In addition it continues to make progress on the development of digitalization by elaborating the working draft of two new standards:
ISO/NP 25407Guidelines for smart management of wastewater system
ISO/NP 25288Guidelines for smart drinking water service management integrating AI technology
WG 16 – Climate change adaptation
WG 16 – Climate change adaptation is addressing the development of the ISO 24566 series of standards on Adaptation of water services to climate change impacts in four parts since 2020:
Part 1: Assessment principles
Part 2: Stormwater services
Part 3:Drinking water services
Part 4: Wastewater services
The first two parts were published in 2024. Parts 3 and 4 will be published at the end of 2025.
WG 18 – Management of Microplastics
WG 18 – Management of Microplastics This new group has been working on the new project since the beginning of 2025:
ISO NP 24515Guidelines for management of microplastics (MPs) in water supply systems
This work will last approximately 3 years.
Recently Completed Projects and Activities
WG 8 – Onsite domestic wastewater management
WG 8 – Onsite domestic wastewater management ISO 24525:2022 Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services - Operation and maintenance of onsite domestic wastewater services This standard provides guidance on the many aspects of operation and maintenance of onsite domestic wastewater systems (ODWS). It is mainly intended to assist relevant entities and organizations with the formulation of regulations or guidelines. It covers both basic and advanced technologies.
WG 9 – Decision Support Systems
WG 9 – Decision Support Systems has published in 2019, ISO 24522Event detection process: Guidelines for water and wastewater utilities.
WG 14 – Governance
WG 14 – Governance Has published in 2023, ISO 24540 Principles for effective and efficient corporate governance of water utilities and a revised version in 2024 of ISO 24510Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services — Guidelines for the assessment and for the improvement of the service to users
WG 17 – ISO 24511 and 24512 Revisions
WG 17 – ISO 24511 and 24512 Revisions Has published in 2024 the new version of:
ISO 24511Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services — Guidelines for the management of wastewater utilities and for the assessment of wastewater services
ISO 24512Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services — Guidelines for the management of drinking water utilities and for the assessment of drinking water services
ISO 46001:2019 is the first Requirements Standard developed by ISO TC 224, to which organizations can receive certification as a water efficiency management organization. It parallels ISO 14001 – Environmental Management and 50001 - Energy Efficiency Management, and is an increasingly important standard as we move to the UN’s sustainable goals and objectives. Both water services and their customers can demonstrate their efficient use of water both in the provision of water or in the use of water to demonstrate their contributions to water sustainability. ISO 46001 revision will be at the agenda of ISO TC 224 Toronto meeting in June 2025.