Development of a framework for assessing the robustness of drinking water source protection programmes using critical success factors

Abstract

Effective implementation of drinking water source protection (DWSP) programmes relies on a range of factors working successfully for the effective protection of water quality. The objective of this research is to develop a weighted scoring framework for assessing the controls applied to risk management in DWSP programmes. The proposed scoring framework for DWSP programmes robustness is based on statistical analysis and pairwise comparisons of the perceptions of DWSP experts and professionals in Taiwan, Australia, and Greece on the importance of the control measures for the hazards involved in managing DWSP programmes. The scores show that although there is consistent opinion on factors for robustness of DWSP programmes, respondents’ background such as country significantly influences how effectively the factors are achieved. The systems in place for DWSP can be complex, and this approach provides a way of assessing the robustness of the programmes for protecting water quality under differing jurisdictional arrangements.