Abstract
El usuario final es el último componente de los Sistemas de Abastecimiento de Agua Potable (SAAP) y se caracteriza porsu vulnerabilidad frente a los peligros debido a su cercanía al punto de consumo. En este estudio se realizó la evaluacióndel riesgo en el usuario final del SAAP de la ciudad de Cali abastecido por el río Cauca, enmarcado en la filosofía de losPlanes de Seguridad del Agua (PSA), usando herramientas como la matriz de peligros/eventos peligrosos, el monitoreo decalidad de agua, la aplicación de encuestas a los usuarios y la construcción de matrices semicuantitativas para estimaciónde riesgos. Los resultados evidenciaron poca percepción del riesgo y desconocimiento de la responsabilidad del usuariofinal en la protección de la calidad del agua, lo que puede generar conductas inadecuadas comprometiendo la integridaddel sistema interno de distribución. Aunque la mayoría de variables analizadas cumplieron la reglamentación nacional,algunos puntos registraron bajos valores de cloro residual y elevado recuento de bacterias heterotróficas, lo que sugierepotenciales riesgos por presencia de biopelícula. La participación y compromiso de todos los actores involucradosson estrategias fundamentales para evitar conductas inadecuadas y reducir riesgos, además del fomento de campañaseducativas como lo indica la reglamentación nacional.
Highlights
In a traditional approach, drinking water suppliers are usually required to verify that the quality of the water supplied to consumers meets the specified regulation, but a final water quality monitoring is not enough because its analysis results do not always allow to take opportune measures to prevent health risks before its distribution to consumers; besides, there are other factors such as low representativeness and monitoring frequency, and shortcomings in some microbiological contamination indicators
The lack of information was observed as a general condition in different Drinking Water Supply Systems (DWSS), mainly in Water Safety Plans (WSP) experience reported in Latin America and the Caribbean (RED – Planes de Seguridad del Agua (PSA)/LAC, 2012), which could be an obstacle to have a precise and reliable knowledge on the potential risk for the consumer
The water service company accomplishes to ensure water quality along the municipal distribution system, it is clear that potential hazards that can affect its quality once it enters buildings exist
Summary
In a traditional approach, drinking water suppliers are usually required to verify that the quality of the water supplied to consumers meets the specified regulation, but a final water quality monitoring is not enough because its analysis results do not always allow to take opportune measures to prevent health risks before its distribution to consumers; besides, there are other factors such as low representativeness and monitoring frequency, and shortcomings in some microbiological contamination indicators. Inconvenient designs and the periodic maintenance of storage tanks lead to a residual disinfectant loss and a microbiological risk increase, affecting drinking water quality (Lee & Schwab, 2005; Graham &Vanderslice, 2007; Montoya et al, 2012) Factors such as the age and material of internal pipelines, cross-connections, backflow, low pressures, discontinuity or intermittence in service, poor hygiene practices and lack of knowledge regarding adequate household water management (CEHI et al, 2009; Cunliffe et al, 2011), easing sediment drag due to hydraulic regimes, chemicals leaching by corrosion of pipelines and accessories, and biofilm formation (Lee & Schwab, 2005; Pinney et al, 2006; Jiménez & Rose, 2009; Silva et al, 2009)
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