Water Safety Plans - hazard analysis

Summary

A Water Safety Plan (WSP) ensures clean drinking water by identifying and managing potential hazards throughout the water supply process. The plan emphasizes hazard analysis, which examines biological, chemical, physical, and radiological risks that may degrade water quality. WSP teams work alongside experts to detect these hazards at each supply step and address both short- and long-term risks, from technical failures to environmental contamination. By documenting hazards and hazardous events, WSP teams proactively safeguard public health and maintain water quality, ensuring safe drinking water for communities.

Takeaways

• 😀 Water suppliers are responsible for ensuring a clean and safe drinking water supply from the catchment area to the point of use.
• 😀 Various events, including biological, chemical, physical, or radiological degradation, can pose hazards to water quality.
• 😀 Hazards in drinking water can harm consumer health, affect the technical security of supply, or alter the sensory properties like color, odor, and taste.
• 😀 The Water Safety Plan (WSP) concept distinguishes between hazards (e.g., viruses) and hazardous events (e.g., sneezing or accidents).
• 😀 A road near a catchment area isn't automatically a risk, but an accident involving hazardous materials, like fuel, can create a hazardous event.
• 😀 Hazardous events can be short-term, such as technical system failures, or long-term, such as intensive agriculture or aging infrastructure.
• 😀 The WSP team identifies and documents potential hazards and hazardous events for each step in the water supply process.
• 😀 A hazard analysis includes reviewing microbiological and chemical quality of raw and drinking water, along with operational records.
• 😀 Site visits and inspections by the WSP team are crucial for identifying potential hazards, with tools like photographs and GPS data assisting documentation.
• 😀 By identifying hazards early, the WSP team can implement measures to ensure the continued safety and quality of drinking water.

Q & A

What is the primary responsibility of water suppliers in the Water Safety Plan (WSP)?

Water suppliers are responsible for ensuring that clean, safe drinking water is supplied at all times, from the catchment area through treatment and storage, all the way to the point of use.

What types of degradation can impact the quality of water?

Water quality can be degraded biologically, chemically, physically, or radiologically, leading to potential hazards in the water supply system.

How does the Water Safety Plan (WSP) define a 'hazard' and a 'hazardous event'?

A 'hazard' is a potential threat to water quality, such as harmful microorganisms or toxic chemicals, while a 'hazardous event' is an incident that triggers or causes that hazard, such as an accident or contamination event.

Can you provide an example to illustrate the difference between a hazard and a hazardous event?

An example from everyday life: a virus from a person with a cold is a hazard, but the hazardous event would be the person sneezing, which spreads the virus.

What factors can contribute to long-term hazardous events in the water supply system?

Long-term hazardous events can include ongoing issues like intensive agriculture with high fertilizer input or the presence of old, degraded water pipes, such as those made of lead.

How does the WSP team identify potential hazards and hazardous events?

The WSP team identifies hazards by considering historical data, past hazardous events, operational records, and insights from experts. Site visits and inspections are also essential for this process.

Why is it important for the WSP team to conduct a site visit and inspection?

A site visit allows the WSP team to inspect the entire drinking water supply system, document potential hazards, and gather photographs and GPS data for accurate documentation and further analysis.

What role does expert consultation play in hazard analysis for the WSP?

Consulting external experts, such as health authorities, engineering offices, or neighboring utilities, helps the WSP team identify known hazards and assess potential risks more effectively based on expert knowledge and experience.

What are the benefits of conducting a hazard analysis early in the water supply process?

Early hazard analysis helps identify potential problems before they escalate, allowing the WSP team to take preventive measures and ensure the long-term safety and security of the water supply.

How does the Water Safety Plan ensure safe drinking water over time?

The Water Safety Plan ensures safe drinking water by continuously identifying and managing hazards, documenting potential risks, and implementing proactive measures to prevent contamination throughout the water supply process.