The Utilities Regulatory Authority (the Authority), established under the Utilities Regulatory Authority Act No.11 of 2007, is mandated to ensure the provision of safe, reliable, and affordable regulated services to the people of Vanuatu.

Access to safe drinking water remains a challenge in several parts of the country. Many utilities and small water suppliers continue to experience operational, infrastructure, and quality challenges, often without a consistent regulatory mechanism to assesses or enforce compliance. While the URA act provides the Authority with powers to regulate safety in relation to water services, there has been no water safety standard to guide regulated entities.

Ultimately, the Water Safety Standard supports the national objective of ensuring that all people in Vanuatu have access to safe, reliable, and sustainable drinking eater services, consistent with the Government's National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP 2019-2030) and the Vanuatu National Water Policy (2018-2030)