Water safety plan
Encyclopedia
A Water safety plan is a plan to ensure the safety of drinking water
through the use of a comprehensive risk assessment
and risk management
approach that encompasses all steps in water supply
from catchment
to consumer..
Water safety plans are considered by the WHO as the most effective means of maintaining a safe supply of drinking water
to the public. Their use should ensure that water is safe for human consumption and that it meets regulatory water standards relating to human health. Comprehensive risk assessment
and risk management
form the backbone of these plans, which aim to steer management of drinking water-related health risks away from end-of-pipe monitoring and response.
The principles and concepts of other risk management paradigms are extensively drawn upon in WSP design, including the multi-barrier approach
and HACCP[1].
In order to produce a plan, a thorough assessment of the water supply process from water source to the consumer's tap must be carried out by the water provider. Hazard
s and risk
s should be identified, and appropriate steps towards minimizing these risks are then investigated.
(DWI) of England and Wales strongly supports the WHO's WSP initiative and offers guidance and support to water suppliers on the implementation of these plans.
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
through the use of a comprehensive risk assessment
Risk assessment
Risk assessment is a step in a risk management procedure. Risk assessment is the determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a concrete situation and a recognized threat...
and risk management
Risk management
Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities...
approach that encompasses all steps in water supply
Water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
from catchment
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
to consumer..
Origins
During the revision of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality the value of the Water Safety Plan (WSP) approach has repeatedly been highlighted in a series of expert review meetings in Berlin (2000), Adelaide (2001) and Loughborough (2001).Water safety plans are considered by the WHO as the most effective means of maintaining a safe supply of drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
to the public. Their use should ensure that water is safe for human consumption and that it meets regulatory water standards relating to human health. Comprehensive risk assessment
Risk assessment
Risk assessment is a step in a risk management procedure. Risk assessment is the determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a concrete situation and a recognized threat...
and risk management
Risk management
Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities...
form the backbone of these plans, which aim to steer management of drinking water-related health risks away from end-of-pipe monitoring and response.
The principles and concepts of other risk management paradigms are extensively drawn upon in WSP design, including the multi-barrier approach
Multi-barrier approach
The Multi-barrier approach is a key paradigm for ensuring safe drinking water in jurisdictions such as Ontario, elsewhere in Canada, and New Zealand...
and HACCP[1].
In order to produce a plan, a thorough assessment of the water supply process from water source to the consumer's tap must be carried out by the water provider. Hazard
Hazard
A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment. Most hazards are dormant or potential, with only a theoretical risk of harm; however, once a hazard becomes "active", it can create an emergency situation. A hazard does not exist when it is not...
s and risk
Risk
Risk is the potential that a chosen action or activity will lead to a loss . The notion implies that a choice having an influence on the outcome exists . Potential losses themselves may also be called "risks"...
s should be identified, and appropriate steps towards minimizing these risks are then investigated.
Key components
There are three key components to any Water Safety Plan (WSP):- a system assessment, which determines if the drinking water supply chain as a whole is capable of supplying water of sufficiently high a standard to meet regulatory targets;
- operational monitoring, in order to identify control measures in the drinking water system; and
- management plans, which document the system assessment, describe actions taken during various operational conditions and define monitoring and communication plans.
WSPs in England and Wales
The Drinking Water InspectorateDrinking Water Inspectorate
The Drinking Water Inspectorate is a section of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs set up to regulate the public water supply companies in England and Wales....
(DWI) of England and Wales strongly supports the WHO's WSP initiative and offers guidance and support to water suppliers on the implementation of these plans.