This guide addresses the linkages between drinking water, biological diversity and development/poverty alleviation. It aims to raise awareness of sustainable approaches to managing drinking water that have been tested globally. The guide introduces the available techniques, technologies and procedures that optimize social and environmental outcomes in the management of drinking water. It also outlines the connections between drinking water, development and biodiversity, and assists parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in strengthening national and sub-national drinking water development policies, strategies, plans and projects that integrate poverty alleviation and biodiversity. Finally, it provides sources and references where readers can find more detailed information.