Water Safety Plans (WSPs) are being implemented in various countries in South-East Asia to improve access to safe drinking water and reduce waterborne diseases. WSPs involve identifying hazards and risks from catchment to consumer, prioritizing the highest risks, and mitigating risks through control measures. The key drivers for WSPs are the WHO guidelines emphasizing risk assessment and management, and the need to prevent the majority of diarrheal diseases through safe water and hygiene. Countries that have implemented WSPs have seen benefits like improved water quality, reduced waterborne diseases, and more sustainable water supply systems.

1. Water Safety Plans – Experiences from the South-East Asia Region Payden, Regional Advisor, Water, Sanitation & Health World Health Organization, South East Asia Region.

2. Current challenges About 60 percent of people in South-East Asia do not have access to sanitation About 84 percent of the region have access to water supply, however water delivered at the taps is not always safe to drink 1.1 millions deaths due to diarrhoea annually in South-East Asia mostly children

3. Key drivers for water safety plans It is estimated that about 88% of diarrheal diseases can be prevented through safe water, sanitation and good hygiene MDGs for drinking water and sanitation Access to safe water and sanitation declared as basic human right

4. Key drivers for water safety plans WHO guidelines – emphasis on risk assessment and risk management WSP piloted in 15 countries and implemented in 20 countries Global collaboration – WHO, IWA, AusAID, CDC, UN-Habitat, ADB, UNICEF

5. What is a Water Safety Plan A documented plan that: Identifies hazards, assesses risks from catchment to consumer Prioritizes risks – focuses on highest risks Mitigates risks through control measures Moving away from reliance on output monitoring - i.e. measuring parameters in final water More input monitoring – i.e. measuring parameters showing that the system is working

6. In simple terms, WSP means: What are the risks? 2. How do we control the risks? 3. How do we know the risks are under control? Continuous cycle

7. Preparation of WSPs – refer to WHO manual

8. Why do we need WSPs Hazard (contaminant): Salmonella Hazardous event (cause): Pigeons nesting on a water tank roof Tank roof was not sealed and pigeon faeces washed into the tank There was a concentration of Salmonella bacteria in the water tank sediment and at the surface The water tank rapidly drained into the distribution system during a flushing event and chlorine residual was not maintained Effect ~ 500 ill from town of 1,104 7 Dead Gideon, Missouri, 1993 Source: Presentation of Mr Asoka Jayaratne, Water Quality Specialist Yarra Valley Water,Melbourne, Australia

9. Why do we need WSPs Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1993 Hazard (contaminant): Cryptosporidium oocysts Hazardous event (cause): Runoff from heavy spring rains Carrying sewage into Lake Michigan (from which raw water was drawn) Coagulation problems on the filtration system in Milwaukee’s Southern water treatment plant Effect: 400,000 ill from 1.2 million in city 100 dead US$96.2 million www.ionizers.org/images/cryptosporidium.jpg acd 2 March 2006 Source: Presentation of Mr Asoka Jayaratne, Water Quality Specialist Yarra Valley Water,Melbourne, Australia

10. Why do we need WSPs www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol5no1/altek2b.jpg www.ehagroup.com/epidemiology/illnesses/images/e-coli-0157-h7-C.jpg acd 2 March 2006 Hazard (contaminant): E. coli O157:H7 Campylobacter jejuni Hazardous event (cause): Heaving Spring rains Cow manure washed into the well No on line monitoring Failure to chlorinate Water supplied by local water utility Operators, managers & government cutbacks found responsible Effect 2,300 ill 7 Dead $ C$155 million Source: Presentation of Mr Asoka Jayaratne, Water Quality Specialist Yarra Valley Water,Melbourne, Australia

11. Why do we need WSPs Recontamination in the distribution lines and at the household level

12. Why do we need WSPs Increasing risks of water quality – microbiological as well as chemicals from agricultural and industrial activities Increased awareness among consumers – the need to have safe water Typhoid and cholera outbreaks in many countries – due to (re)contamination of water

13. Success stories from Bangladesh The Government approved Water Safety Framework National Vetting Guidelines put in place - requires all new water projects to include WSPs Mayor of Chandpur Municipality – advocator of WSPs WSP implemented in 10 urban supplies, 15 rural supplies and point sources in two districts

14. Bangladesh – Daragram rural water supply Improved management Water from tap is safe to drink Cleanliness of houses and village improved Water safety plan of daragram rural water supply

15. Bangladesh - Chandpur Municipal water supply Piloted in one zone – will be replicated to other zones next few years to make it into a model WSP Leaking distribution lines were repaired, simple measures were taken to prevent birds and insects getting into the reservoir

16. Bangladesh- Kapaura village (46 shallow tubewells) Mass campaign for proper collection of water from handpumps and safe storage Raised awareness regarding linkage between safe water practices and diseases Latrines close to water point were moved Tube well platform were repaired and raised

17. Success stories from Bhutan Policy level changes – WSP included in rural water policy WSP implemented in 5 urban supplies and 50 rural supplies WSP Quality assurance tool developed WSP facilitation guide for rural supplies – participatory approach

18. Bhutan – Haa town water supply Planting of trees in the water source to prevent drying of source Protection of water source and reservoir from animals and humans- fencing Repair of exposed and leaky distribution lines

19. Bhutan- Chanachen rural water supply Community participation in preparing water safety plans Shifting responsibility of O&M to communities Too much pressure in the pipeline – break pressure valve installed

20. Success stories from India Piloted in Hyderabad water system Pilot in progress in Nagpur municipal water system 1 st WSP hands-on training conducted in Nagpur jointly with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in July 2011 Spin-off effect to Bangalore and Mumbai cities

21. Benefits of WSP – seen from initial experiences in the Region Improves water quality – reduces water borne diseases Reduces maintenance cost and cost of treating water at home Improves sustainability of water supply system Better planning for rehabilitation/expansion of water supply system Address water management and sanitation at the household level Principles applicable to any type of water system

22. Thank you!!