Water safety plan

Water Safety Plan

A Water Safety Plan (WSP) is a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach that encompasses all steps in water supply from catchment to consumer. It is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most effective way of consistently ensuring the safety of a drinking-water supply.

Overview

The Water Safety Plan approach is designed to help in identifying potential risks to drinking water safety and in establishing systems to manage those risks. It includes the development of upgrade and improvement plans, routine operation and maintenance procedures, and the development of management procedures and plans for all types of emergencies related to water quality and supply.

Steps in Developing a Water Safety Plan

System Assessment

The first step in developing a WSP is to conduct a system assessment. This involves identifying the hazards and hazardous events that can affect the water supply system, assessing the risks associated with these hazards, and determining whether the existing control measures are sufficient.

Monitoring

The second step is to establish monitoring systems for the control measures. This involves determining what should be monitored, how it should be monitored, and how often. The monitoring results are then used to assess the performance of the control measures and to take corrective action if necessary.

Management Procedures

The third step is to develop management procedures for all types of situations, including normal operation, incidents and emergencies. This involves identifying the actions that need to be taken, who is responsible for taking these actions, and how these actions should be documented and communicated.

Verification

The final step is to verify that the WSP is working effectively. This involves reviewing and auditing the WSP, and making necessary adjustments to ensure that it continues to be effective.

Benefits of a Water Safety Plan

A well-implemented WSP can provide a number of benefits, including:

• Improved safety of drinking water
• More efficient use of resources
• Greater transparency and accountability
• Increased confidence in the water supply

See Also

• Drinking water quality standards
• Water quality
• Water treatment
• Water supply network

References

• World Health Organization. (2017). Guidelines for drinking-water quality: fourth edition incorporating the first addendum. Geneva: World Health Organization.
• World Health Organization. (2009). Water Safety Plan Manual: Step-by-step risk management for drinking-water suppliers. Geneva: World Health Organization.