Technical Assistance Needs and Research Priorities for Small Community Water Systems

Dziegielewski, Ben; Bik, Tom

doi:10.1111/j.1936-704x.2004.mp128001003.x

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Inadequate record keeping is a common challenge among small communities (Dziegielewski & Bik, 2004). DWSPs have the potential to serve as a bridge to communication across all actors, provide consistency and create a common vocabulary amongst all of those involved with operations, decisions and regulations.…”

Section: Managing Multi-scaled Relationship Dynamics Through Dwspsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drinking water safety plans: barriers and bridges for small systems in Alberta, Canada

et al. 2014

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Water safety plans provide a relatively new management approach for identifying and addressing risks in a water supply. In 2011, the province of Alberta (Canada) became the first jurisdiction in North America to require that all water supplies develop drinking water safety plans (DWSPs). This research explored the implementation of DWSPs through the experiences of 'early adopter' operators who work in small communities. Specifically, inperson open-ended qualitative interviews with operators from 15 small communities from across Alberta were conducted to explore implementation challenges and opportunities. The findings highlight a number of barriers associated with the relationships between decision-making bodies, regulatory authorities and water operators, all of which have the potential to support or hinder the uptake of a DWSP. Findings also indicate that a DWSP can act as a bridge, providing a much-needed tool to facilitate communication about water supplies and help to support and manage relationships between stakeholders. This study revealed a number of important and useful insights to the small community early DWSP adopter experience in Canada that could be applied in other jurisdictions looking to adopt similar practices.

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Section: Managing Multi-scaled Relationship Dynamics Through Dwspsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drinking water safety plans: barriers and bridges for small systems in Alberta, Canada

et al. 2014

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“…Further analysis estimates that nearly 99 per cent of First Nations communities in Canada have a population of 5,000 or less (Neegan Burnside Limited 2011), meaning almost all have SDWS and their inherent vulnerabilities. (Dziegielewski and Bik 2004). c (Maras 2004).…”

Section: Systemic Challengesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Refocusing the lens: Drinking water success in First Nations in Ontario

McCullough

Farahbakhsh

2015

Can Public Adm

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This article examines the definition of success in First Nations drinking water service as voiced by the First Nations technical community of practice. The research explores success stories to identify success themes and factors to formulate a workable definition for policy-makers. Researchers interviewed sixteen technical practitioners in Ontario using a semi-structured approach. Data analysis revealed a definition of success that extends beyond the technical boundary to include professional growth, employment, local action and a facilitating policy environment. This comprehensive definition provides a basis for policy and program considerations to increase First Nations buy-in and foster a constructive environment for drinking water improvements.Sommaire : Le pr esent article examine la d efinition de succès dans la prestation de services d'eau potable aux Premières Nations telle qu'elle est exprim ee par le milieu technique des Premières Nations. L' etude examine les exemples de r eussite afin de cerner les thèmes et les facteurs de succès pour formuler une d efinition exploitable pour les elaborateurs de politiques. Les chercheurs ont interview e seize sp ecialistes techniques en Ontario par le biais d'une approche semi-structur ee. L'analyse des donn ees a r ev el e une d efinition du succès qui va au-del a de la frontière technique pour inclure la croissance professionnelle, l'emploi, l'action locale et un environnement politique propice. Cette d efinition compr ehensive fournit une base pour recommander des consid erations de principes et de politiques afin d'accroître le soutien des Premières Nations et d'encourager un environnement constructif pour apporter des am eliorations en matière d'eau potable.Drinking water challenges in First Nations communities have persisted in Canada's political and media spotlight for well over a decade. Infrastructure gaps, homes without piped water supply and chronic drinking water advisories-leading to a declared drinking water emergency and community evacuation-are but some of the issues affecting these communities. Despite years of targeted federal initiatives, these challenges of access, quality assurance and risk perception remain.

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“…In general, small community water systems, defined as those systems servicing between 501 and 3,300 people year-round (USEPA, 2006), face considerable difficulties in achieving financial capacity (Brown;2005;Dziegielewski and Bik, 2004;Maras, 2004;NRC, 1997). The situation is more complex for First Nations water systems in Canada.…”

Section: The Analytical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Capacity of Montreal Lake, Saskatchewan to Provide Safe Drinking Water: Applying a Framework for Analysis

Lebel¹,

Reed²

2010

Canadian Water Resources Journal

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The long history of poor water quality plaguing First Nations communities in Canada has received little public attention in comparison to the waterborne disease outbreaks in Walkerton, Ontario in 2000 and North Battleford, Saskatchewan in 2001. In recent years, initiatives from the federal government and considerable financial support have improved the quality of drinking water on some reserves. However, the challenges First Nations communities face in the provision of safe drinking water remain, and certain systems continue to pose health risks. As a result, there is an emerging interest in the ability of First Nations communities to effectively manage their drinking water resources. The purpose of this paper is to establish an analytical framework for assessing the capacity of a First Nations community to provide safe drinking water and to apply the framework to a First Nations reserve community in north-central Saskatchewan (SK). Through multiple data sources, including individual interviews, a public workshop, documents and inspection reports, and water quality data, water system capacity was considered in terms of financial, human resources, institutional, social/political, and technical dimensions. It was determined that there are no serious deficiencies in the management of the community's drinking water. However, a few flaws in certain aspects of drinking water management were detected. These include weak linkages between the agencies responsible for drinking water provision, and a low level of drinking water safety for community residents served by the truck haul distribution system. This research confirms the multi-dimensional aspects of water system capacity, reveals the necessity for different levels of authority to work together, and provides an analytical framework which may be applicable to future studies examining First Nations and small-scale drinking water systems. Résumé : La longue histoire de la piètre qualité de l'eau, qui constitue un fléau pour les collectivités des Premières nations au Canada, a reçu bien peu d'attention publique comparativement aux éclosions de maladies d'origine hydrique à Walkerton, en Ontario, en 2000, et à North Battleford, en Saskatchewan, en 2001. Au cours des dernières années, des initiatives du gouvernement fédéral et un soutien financier considérable ont contribué à améliorer la qualité de l'eau potable dans certaines réserves. Cependant, les défis auxquels font face les collectivités des Premières nations pour ce qui est de l'approvisionnement en eau potable salubre persistent, et certains réseaux continuent de poser des risques pour la santé. Par multidimensionnels de la capacité du réseau d'alimentation en eau, révèle le besoin de différents niveaux d'autorité pour favoriser la collaboration et offre un cadre analytique pouvant s'appliquer à de futures études axées sur les réseaux d'alimentation en eau potable des Premières nations et à petite échelle.

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Technical Assistance Needs and Research Priorities for Small Community Water Systems

Cited by 15 publications

References 2 publications

Drinking water safety plans: barriers and bridges for small systems in Alberta, Canada

Drinking water safety plans: barriers and bridges for small systems in Alberta, Canada

Refocusing the lens: Drinking water success in First Nations in Ontario

The Capacity of Montreal Lake, Saskatchewan to Provide Safe Drinking Water: Applying a Framework for Analysis

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