The role of water safety plan (WSP) to enhance the compatibility in water sector, Egypt

Abstract

Recently, the Egyptian Government (GoE) seek to achieve comprehensive development through a mass of megaprojects. Water is a crucial element in the developing process, and Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW) is one of the key actors in setting national policies for water and wastewater services. These investments need a wide approach to guarantee good governance and sustainable management. Water safety plan (WSP) approach introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) is recognized as the most reliable and effective way to manage drinking‐water supplies to secure public health. HCWW has adopted WSP as a holistic approach not only to mitigate the potential risk to public health but also as a participatory way to reinforce and create resiliency among the key actors in water sector. This study highlighted the tangible impacts on the performance and homogeneity of the water sector in different areas at different levels as a response of WSP implementation. Modifications have been recorded in the operational, institutional, collaboration, and legislative outcomes at micro‐level, meso‐level, and macro‐level as a response to WSP. Some challenges were detected such as a lack of financial resources and no clear commitment of WSP incorporation in the policies of the main stakeholders.