Trinkwasser-Babys_Drinking-water-babys

World Health Day 2025: Clean drinking water – overlooked by many, but a necessity for mother and child

7 April 2025 is once again the date on which World Health Day raises public awareness about our right to good health. This year’s event is organised around the theme of ‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’. This is a powerful slogan that highlights how a healthy start in life is the basis for a happy childhood and a stable society. Yet what many people overlook is the key role that is played here by clean drinking water.

Whether for preparing infant formula, ensuring good hygiene during birth or for day-to-day baby care – water quality is always important. Even in countries with high drinking water standards like Germany, problems can still occur if water is allowed to stagnate in piping, for example. This is where the automated stagnation flushes from SCHELL’s electronic fittings offer a helping hand to ensure good water hygiene – both in hospitals and at home. To find out how, read on.

Why World Health Day is so important 

Started by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948, this global health awareness day is celebrated on 7 April every year. A different topic is featured every year. In 2025, the focus is on the health of mothers and babies. 

A healthy start to life needs safe living conditions, high-quality healthcare provision and – naturally – clean drinking water. After all: even the best healthcare system is of little use if water is contaminated with bacteria. Drinking water hygiene is essential!

Trinkwassergu__te_Drinking-water-quality

Why clean water is a necessity for mothers and babies 

Why is safe drinking water so important? Here are a few good reasons: 

  • Protects against infection: Bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella or Legionella can cause serious illnesses, and are especially dangerous for babies and pregnant women. 
  • Healthy nutrition: Baby food is usually prepared with tap water. If this water is contaminated, it can harm the baby’s sensitive digestive system. 
  • Hygiene during birth and infant care: From the hospital to the home – clean water protects mother and child.

An invisible hazard: stagnating water 

In Germany, drinking water is strictly regulated. But if water is left standing in the piping, this can become a problem. After only four hours, substances harmful to health can leach out and bacteria like Legionella can start to spread. 

Safety first: 

  • Before use, always let the water run until it is colder to the touch. 
  • Do not use any water that has been standing in the pipes for more than 72 hours. Flush the cold tap and then the hot tap.

A smart solution: automatic stagnation flushes for taps 

Flushing drinking water piping regularly is essential. But does anyone remember to do this? This is where electronic taps from SCHELL come in: they flush automatically at fixed intervals and thereby prevent health risks from stagnating water. 


How to keep water hygienic for baby food and infant care 

Hygiene is extremely important for families with babies. The GRANDIS E kitchen tap from SCHELL performs regular flushes automatically, and offers hybrid manual and electronic, contactless controls for truly hygienic operation. The tap water not only stays hands-free and fresh but is also hygienically clean at all times. Simply perfect for preparing baby food!

GRANDIS-E

Preparing infant formula safely with hygienic drinking water: the GRANDIS E electronic kitchen tap features an option for performing automated stagnation flushes, which prevents the critical build-up of Legionella bacteria.

Hospitals and labour wards: why drinking water hygiene is doubly important here 

In hospitals and maternity wards, clean water is a top priority. SCHELL offers fittings like the VITUS VW-E-T that have been specially developed for the healthcare sector. This tap features contactless operation and performs stagnation flushes automatically – a key feature for fighting infection. 

In larger facilities, SCHELL’s SWS Water Management System is an excellent choice. This system networks all electronic fittings and performs stagnation flushes automatically everywhere with full record-keeping – offering significant peace of mind for hospital operators and facility managers.

VITUS-VW-E-T

VITUS-VW E-T exposed electronic wash basin taps ensure best-in-class drinking water and user hygiene in hospitals and labour wards.

Clean water for a healthy start to life 

World Health Day 2025 reminds us how important it is to get the best start in life. And this includes hygienically safe drinking water. SCHELL fittings and the SWS Water Management System offer straightforward ways to avoid stagnating water – to improve the health of mothers, babies and the whole family.

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