Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes water safety plans (WSPs) - a risk-based management approach - for premise plumbing systems in buildings to prevent deterioration of drinking-water quality. Experience with the implementation of WSPs in buildings were gathered within a pilot project in Germany. The project included an evaluation of the feasibility and advantages of WSPs by all stakeholders who share responsibility in drinking-water safety. While the feasibility of the concept was demonstrated for all buildings, benefits reported by building operators varied. The more technical standards were complied with before implementing WSP, the less pronounced were the resulting improvements. In most cases, WSPs yielded an increased system knowledge and awareness for drinking-water quality issues. WSPs also led to improved operation of the premise plumbing system and provided benefits for surveillance authorities. A survey among the European Network of Drinking-Water Regulators on the existing legal framework regarding drinking-water safety in buildings exhibited that countries are aware of the need to manage risks in buildings' installations, but experience with WSP is rare. Based on the successful implementation and the positive effects of WSPs on drinking-water quality, we recommend the establishment of legal frameworks that require WSPs for priority buildings whilst accounting for differing conditions in buildings and countries.

Highlights

  • Policy contextCurrent international policy developments promote improved water management in buildings

  • The presented results of the pilot project focus on the feedback from all project members and the way they assessed the feasibility of the water safety plans (WSPs) approach, the availability of resources and the expertise needed

  • All project members assessed the formation of the WSP team and the resulting exchange of knowledge as beneficial for the implementation of the WSP

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Policy contextCurrent international policy developments promote improved water management in buildings. At the launch of the International Decade for Action 2018–2028 – ‘Water for Sustainable Development’ on 22 March 2018 – the. In response to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the call of the UN Secretary General, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have taken action to promote safe and reliable drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities for every health care facility until 2030 (WHO a). The 2019 World Health Assembly resolution emphasizes the urgent need for national policies on WASH in health care facilities (WHO ).

Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call