WSP - Water safety plan

Points to consider when developing and implementing a WSP

The aim of a WSP is very straightforward: to consistently ensure the safety and acceptability of a drinking water supply. The development and implementation of the WSP approach for each drinking water supply is as follows:

• Set up a team and decide a methodology by which a WSP will be developed,
• Identify all the hazards and hazardous events that can affect the safety of a water supply system from the catchment, through treatment and distribution to the consimers` point of use,
• Assess the risk presented by each hazard and hazardous event,
• Considerif controls or barriers are in placve for each significant risk and if these are effective,
• Validate the effectiveness of controls and barriers,
• Implement an improvement plan where necessary,
• Demonstrate that the system is consistently safe, Regurarly review the hazards, risks and controls,
• Keep accurate records for transparency and justification of outcomes.

This systematic nature of the WSP strategy should never be lost or forgotten during implementation. The great advantage of the WSP strategy is that it is applicable to ensuring the safety of water in all types and sizes of water supply systems no matter how simple or complex.

The WSP approach should be considered as a risk management strategy or umbrella which will influence a water utility’s whole way of working towards the continuing supply of safe water. Significant risks that are not currently controlled need to be mitigated. This may involve short-, medium- or long-term steps for improvement. The WSP approach should be dynamic and practical and not merely another operating procedure.