Water safety plans
In the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality an approach termed water safety plans has been developed to organize and systematize management practices applied to drinking-water and to ensure the applicability of these practices to the management of drinking-water quality.
Rolling revision
Water safety plans are included in the plan of work of the rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.
Background
The improvement of water quality control strategies, in conjunction with improvements in excreta disposal and personal hygiene, can be expected to deliver substantial health gains in the population. The Water Safety Plans supporting document provides information on improved strategies for the control and monitoring of drinking-water quality.
Expected end product(s)
- Stand-alone report (“principles” document) "Water Safety Plans: Managing Drinking-water quality from catchment to consumer", released in 2005;
- Supporting document (“how to” document), publication date September 2007;
- Revised text in Fourth Edition to clarify definitions of verification and validation and address the need for suppliers to undertake internal review of their plans (perhaps section 4.6 on documentation and communication and elsewhere).
Progress to date
The potential for application of WSPs was evaluated in a series of expert review meetings in Berlin (2000), Adelaide (2001) and Loughborough (2001), and a text on WSPs and application of the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP)-type approach to water supply was introduced at the Chemical Aspects WG meeting (Tokyo, 2002). The "Water Safety Plans: Managing Drinking-water quality from catchment to consumer" document has been reviewed, and comments are being incorporated. It was released in 2005 as a “principles” report, not a “how to” supporting document, in response to the immediate need for guidance in this area. The GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2004) recommended that a supporting document that focused on “how to” guidance be prepared as a high priority. The GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2005) agreed on a plan of work, which was revised by the GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2006). The GDWQ WG (Berlin, 2007) were advised that the manual would be published in September 2007 and agreed on a path forward for a similar manual for small water supplies.
The draft document is now available for review. Comments are welcome following the format on the comment sheet, below.
Comments on the draft document above should be sent before 15 August 2007 to gdwqWSPManual@who.int
WSP dissemination mechanisms
Background
The GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2005) identified the need for more structured plans and activities for “dissemination mechanisms” for WSPs. There is a need for the development of training and educational materials, such as workshop programmes, table/desktop exercises and interactive problem-solving tasks, as a way to facilitate the learning of WSPs by water suppliers. Workshops have already been conducted, such as in Iceland in 2004 and another one on risk management in July 2005 in Australia, with representation from SEARO and WPRO. Other workshops will possibly be held in Marrakech, Morocco and South America.
Expected end product(s)
- Development of a web site on WSPs as a training and education tool;
- Implementation support in the form of training programmes, modules and materials.
Progress to date
The GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2005) agreed on a plan of work. The WSP web site has been published as WSPortal and launched at the World Water Forum in Mexico, March 2006. The GDWQ WG meeting (Berlin, 2007) was updated on progress regarding the WSPortal, including a revision process, in collaboration with IWA. WSP training pack pending.