The Water Safety Plan Approach: Application to Small Drinking-Water Systems-Case Studies in Salento (South Italy).

Francesca Serio,Adele Idolo,Antonella De Donno,Francesco Bagordo,Lucia Martella,Giovanni Imbriani

doi:10.3390/ijerph18084360

Francesca Serio, Adele Idolo + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084360

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Abstract

Background: The quality of water for human consumption is an objective of fundamental importance for the defense of public health. Since the management of networks involves many problems of control and efficiency of distribution, the Water Safety Plan (WSP) was introduced to address these growing problems. Methods: WSP was applied to three companies in which the water resource assumes central importance: five water kiosks, a third-range vegetable processing company, and a residence and care institution. In drafting the plan, the terms and procedures designed and tested for the management of urban distribution systems were applied to safeguard the resource over time. Results: The case studies demonstrated the reliability of the application of the model even to small drinking-water systems, even though it involved a greater effort in analyzing the incoming water, the local intended use, and the possibilities for managing the containment of the dangers to which it is exposed. This approach demonstrates concrete effectiveness in identifying and mitigating the dangers of altering the quality of water. Conclusions: Thanks to the WSP applied to small drinking-water systems, we can move from management that is focused mainly on verifying the conformity of the finished product to the creation of a global risk assessment and management system that covers the entire water supply chain.

Highlights

The Italian scene is characterized by a large number of small water managers who, in some cases, in addition to the structural problems typical of these systems, can be significantly affected by economic constraints and investment difficulties, as they have to integrate this responsibility with other important sectors of use that the local authority is required to ensure, together with the water service
According to the Water Safety Plan (WSP), control strategies in drinking water management systems are redefined, moving from an approach mainly focused on verifying the conformity of the finished product to the creation of a global risk assessment and management system that covers the entire water supply chain
The WSP substantially strengthens the system of controls at the withdrawal points on the AQP network, with the integration of sitespecific analysis elements that guarantee a safe water supply, shifting interest towards the creation of a global risk assessment and management system extended to the entire water supply chain, from collection to the final user

Summary

Introduction

Since the management of networks involves many problems of control and efficiency of distribution, the Water Safety Plan (WSP) was introduced to address these growing problems. Results: The case studies demonstrated the reliability of the application of the model even to small drinking-water systems, even though it involved a greater effort in analyzing the incoming water, the local intended use, and the possibilities for managing the containment of the dangers to which it is exposed. This approach demonstrates concrete effectiveness in identifying and mitigating the dangers of altering the quality of water. Conclusions: Thanks to the WSP applied to small drinking-water systems, we can move from management that is focused mainly on verifying the conformity of the finished product to the creation of a global risk assessment and management system that covers the entire water supply chain

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