Principles of Water Safety Plans

1
Principles of Water Safety Plans

• John Fawell
• Independent Consultant to IWA and WHO

2
Why do we need Water Safety Plans

• End product monitoring has served us well but
  limitations, particularly microbiological
  contaminants. Also chemicals.
• E. coli is good faecal indicator but has
  limitations. Samples are small and infrequent in
  relation to quantity of water supplied. Not good
  indicator of specific pathogens.
• Not a management tool because of delay in
  results. Excellent for risk assessment and
  surveillance.

3
Key Points

• Building on existing procedures. Risk analysis
  and quality management applied through the water
  supply chain source to consumer.
• Preventive rather than reactive.
• Continuous improvement not all at once
• Transparent telling what you do and doing what
  you say.
• Identify threats and weak links in system.
• Other stakeholders need to be involved.

4
Requirements

• Management commitment
• Institutional structure and commitment
• WSP team, Water Utility leads with links to other
  stakeholders.
• Holistic approach everything links together.
  Catchment to Tap.
• Competent and trained staff.

5
What is it about?

• System assessment
• Hazard identification and risk assessment
• Management of risks

6
Principles

• Change from reliance on measuring standards in
  final water to more integrated and proactive
  approach.
• Ensure that the system is capable of supplying
  good safe drinking water that has the trust of
  consumers.(Bonn Charter)
• Management procedures, controls and operational
  monitoring. Documentation and verification.

7
Overall Approach to a Water Quality Framework
What is the hazard?
What is the risk?
Has the hazard or risk changed?
How do we fix the hazard/reduce the risk?
How do we prove it stays fixed?
Will the way in which hazard/risk is fixed change
any other hazards/risks?
How do we know it is fixed?
Risk reduced or eliminated
8
Framework

• Catchment management plan
• Treatment site operating manual
• Distribution operating manual
• Customer liaison plan
• All linked as each impacts on the others

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Benefits - Companies

• More effective co-ordination of existing
  procedures and initiatives, added efficiency
• Better targeting of monitoring and prevention of
  emergencies
• Encourages other stakeholders to take increased
  responsibility
• Clearer identification of responsibility for
  those outside company control
• Strong basis for gaining and retaining confidence
  of consumers

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Benefits - Customers

• Increased reliability of water supply
• Increased customer confidence in water supply,
  including more emotive issues e.g. trace
  chemicals

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Benefits - Regulators

• Clear risk based targeting and justification of
  investment in water quality
• Assurance of quality and potentially also water
  efficiency.
• Clear audit role.
• Helps allocate responsibility.
• Provides a framework for addressing the managed
  water cycle.

12
Documentation and Training

• Not just dry documents
• Living process updated as things change and
  with new knowledge.
• Need to be used, therefore user friendly system.
• Need to cover all aspects and link to other areas
• Do not need whole plan and all documentation at
  once.
• Better if it develops

13
Conclusions

• Framework builds on WHO, Bonn and existing
  practices.
• Logical extension of existing practice to give
  significant added benefits
• Essentially practical
• Provides overarching approach to water supply