Benefits of Water Safety Plans: Microbiology, Compliance, and Public Health

Abstract

The Water Safety Plan (WSP) methodology, which aims to enhance safety of drinking water supplies, has been recommended by the World Health Organization since 2004. WSPs are now used worldwide and are legally required in several countries. However, there is limited systematic evidence available demonstrating the effectiveness of WSPs on water quality and health. Iceland was one of the first countries to legislate the use of WSPs, enabling the analysis of more than a decade of data on impact of WSP. The objective was to determine the impact of WSP implementation on regulatory compliance, microbiological water quality, and incidence of clinical cases of diarrhea. Surveillance data on water quality and diarrhea were collected and analyzed. The results show that HPC (heterotrophic plate counts), representing microbiological growth in the water supply system, decreased statistically significant with fewer incidents of HPC exceeding 10 cfu per mL in samples following WSP implementation and noncompliance was also significantly reduced (p < 0.001 in both cases). A significant decrease in incidence of diarrhea was detected where a WSP was implemented, and, furthermore, the results indicate that population where WSP has been implemented is 14% less likely to develop clinical cases of diarrhea.

Chemical quality and regulatory compliance of drinking water in Iceland

“…A systematic proactive approach for protecting drinking water, a water safety plan, was adopted into Icelandic legislation in 1995 when drinking water was classified as food (Parliament, 1995). This has proven to be beneficial to drinking water quality and public health as well as changing the attitudes of staff and the utility culture on water quality issues (Gunnarsdottir et al, 2012a;2012b).…”

Assessment of safety in drinking water supply system of Birjand city using World Health Organization’s water safety plan

“…Digestive diseases that originate from contaminated water and deficient health measures are the reason of 2.4 million deaths and 73 million disabilities (8). Epidemic diseases resulting from unhealthy water resources affect all countries, whether developed or developing, and cause mortality and economic damage to individual people and society as a whole (9). In its newest report associated with world health statistics (WHO 2011), the WHO has introduced unsafe drinking water (along with eight other parameters) as a preventive risk factor causing disease and mortality around the world.…”

The Toledo Drinking Water Advisory: Suggested Application of the Water Safety Planning Approach

“…WSP is a methodology to assess, prioritize and manage risks to the water supply from catchment to consumer [17]. It is a combination of more traditional multiple-barrier risk management approach and the hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) approach [18].…”

“…WSP has been a successful approach to maintain drinking water safety and is now used in many countries; it is also a regulatory requirement in several countries [17]. Some countries that have implemented WSP include: Iceland (legislated in 1995: [17]); Bangladesh, Belgium [20], Switzerland [21], the Netherlands [22], Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Peru, Portugal [23] and Nigeria [24].…”

“…Some countries that have implemented WSP include: Iceland (legislated in 1995: [17]); Bangladesh, Belgium [20], Switzerland [21], the Netherlands [22], Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Peru, Portugal [23] and Nigeria [24]. Implementation of WSP in the European Union was promoted by the International Water Association and supported by the WHO [25][26][27].…”