Water safety plans: Managing drinking-water quality from catchment to consumer

Prepared by Annette Davison, Guy Howard, Melita Stevens, Phil Callan, Lorna Fewtrell, Dan Deere and Jamie Bartram

During the revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality leading to the 3rd edition, the value of the Water Safety Plan (WSP) approach has repeatedly been highlighted. The potential for water safety plan application has been evaluated in a series of expert review meetings in Berlin (2000), Adelaide (2001) and Loughborough (2001). This document describes the water safety plan approach and further substantiation is provided in a set of companion volumes addressing source protection, treatment processes (at supply and household level), distribution of drinking-water and selection of parameters and analytical methods.

This book is aimed at practitioners at all levels. It is especially relevant to water quality managers, regulators (including those people responsible for putting together guidance notes on interpretation), auditors, consultants and international organizations.

Download the full document

Water safety plans: managing drinking-water quality from catchment to consumer

Download individual chapters in English

Publishing and ordering information

WHO/SDE/WSH/05.06
© World Health Organization 2005
Available in English only
In print

Rolling revision of the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality

Water safety plans are included n 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 conjuction 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-products

Stand-alone report ("principles" document) and supporting document ("how to" document). Publication dates unknown.

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 HACCP-type approach to water supply was introduced at the Chemical Aspects Working Group meeting (Tokyo, 2002). The WSP document has been reviewed, and comments are being incorporated. It is to be released by mid-2005 as a “principles” report, not a supporting document, in response to the immediate need for guidance in this area. The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2004) strongly agreed on the need for a “how to” document and recommended that a supporting document that focused on “how to” guidance be prepared as a high priority. The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2005) agreed on a plan of work.

Water Safety Plans dissemination mechanisms

Background

The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group 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.

Expected end-products

• 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 Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2005) agreed on a plan of work.