The provision of safe water in adequate quantities is a basic necessity in emergencies to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, and more specifically, the spread of waterborne diseases. The reliance of pre-treatment steps and bulk chlorination have been the main ways of achieving water quality standards, but here are still knowledge gaps in the field of practice. To improve the provision of safe water in emergencies, there needs to be better operational tools to improve aid workers' decision-making process, a robust evidence-base for the effectiveness of commonly used treatment technologies, and technological innovations to improve the usability and reliability of current systems.