Water Safety Plans: Auditing under uncertainty

IWA Specialist Group on Water Safety Planning Water Safety Planning

Target Audience

Water utility operators, water utility managers, water safety planning practitioners, auditors, regulators

Description

Water Safety Plan (WSP) auditing is a critical element in the sustainable implementation of WSPs. Auditing provides a check that the WSP is complete, up-to-date and is being implemented effectively. The process supports continuous improvement, a cornerstone of the WSP approach.

This webinar will demonstrate through practical cases from Europe, Africa and Oceania, the way in which water utilities are auditing the effectiveness of water safety planning processes, and improving day-to-day activities ensure the supply of adequate quantities of safe drinking-water. Presenters will highlight how WSP auditing can be a powerful tool to measure performance/effectiveness of control measures, and track progress on the implementation of improvements identified through the WSP process. The webinar will assist water utilities to be better prepared for audits and encourage utilities to consider including climate change impacts to ensure future safe and secure water supply.

The presentation will also place special emphasis on how water utilities can use auditing to identify and close gaps related to COVID-19 and related disaster/emergency response challenges.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:
• Understand key aspects of a WSP audit (before, during and after auditing).
• Learn about best practices, and how utilities/water suppliers are using audit findings to strengthen and optimise water safety planning processes/activities.
• Draw from the experiences presented to assist the development of audit programmes that help drive change.
• Consider if their current WSPs adequately respond to climate hazards and risks (i.e. develop CR-WSPs).
• Consider if their current WSPs adequately respond to COVID-19 and related disaster/emergency response challenges.
• Understand what guidance materials and tools are available to support WSP auditing.

Host

International Water Association

Panelists

  • Rory Moses McKeown Senior Technical Consultant, World Health Organisation (Ireland)
  • Rui Sancho Water Safety Plan Manager, Águas do Algarve (Portugal)
  • Unathi Jack Water Utilisation Engineer, Emanti Management (South Africa)
  • David Sheehan Senior Water Quality & Regulatory Advisor, Coliban Water (Australia)
  • Asoka Jayaratne Water Quality Specialist, Yarra Valley Water (Australia)
  • Philip de Souza Director, Emanti Management (South Africa)