regulatory perspective on development of piped drinking water safety plan in singapore water safety...

Regulatory Perspective on Development of

Piped Drinking Water Safety Plan in Singapore

Water Safety Conference 2010

Challenges and Learning Points

Background: Singapore

Population: ~ 5 millionMean daily temp: ~ 26.8 °CMean annual rainfall: ~ 2300 mmHigh humidity: ~ 84%

Background: Regulatory authorities

Off-shore islands

Land Area = 707 km2

Background : Water Suppliers

Background : Water Suppliers

Challenges and Learning points

New Regulatory Framework

Objectives

a) Need to establish a common set of standards for piped drinking water suppliers

b)Inculcate preventive risk management practices amongst piped drinking water suppliers

•Formed to advise NEA on drinking water quality standards and related issues. •Consists of 11 local and 2 overseas experts

•NEA, PUB, MOH, AVA•Educational Institutions - NUS, NTU•Prof. Michael Rouse from UK•Dr. Joseph Cotruvo from USA

•Expertise of committee lends credence to standards for both the industry as well as the public

Technical Committee on National Drinking Water Quality Standards

New Regulatory framework

New Regulatory Framework

2008

Available for download from NEA’s website: www.nea.gov.sg

Legislative requirements

a) Compliance with the water quality standardsb) Preparation of water safety and sampling plans &

periodic reviewc) Approval of these plans by NEAd) Monitoring of water quality and submission of

test results to NEA e) Calibration and maintenance of test equipmentf) 24-hour notificationg) Documentation and record keeping

New Regulatory Framework

Preparation of water safety plans

a) Code of Practice on Piped Drinking Water Safety and Sampling plans• Available for download from NEA’s

website at: www.nea.gov.sg

b) Templates for preparation of water safety plans

Water Safety Plans

Key components of water safety plans

Based on WHO Guidelines:a) Formation of Water Safety Teamb) Documentation of the systemc) Hazard assessment and risk characterizationd) Sanitary inspection of the raw water/supplye) Control measures and operational monitoringf) Management procedures

Water Safety Plans

Water Safety Plans

• Provides a basis for preparation of water sampling plans

Water Safety Plans

Framework for monitoring and assessment

Challenges and Learning points

Main challenge:

To ensure that all relevant hazards are identified, and their risk characterization is carried out in a meaningful way to establish the high-risk scenarios.

Challenges and Learning Points

Challenges:

a)Certain members in the water safety team may choose to have a greater flexibility in highlighting the hazard, resulting in conflict of view between members on the extent of risk. b)May make generic statements such as “All applicable parameters should be controlled to prevent the hazard”, without specifying the type of the parameters and their degree of control

Challenges and Learning Points

Challenges:

c)May choose not to highlight certain hazards, thinking that the regulatory agency may raise questions on the control of those hazards.d)May document inadequate or even erroneous description of the hazards, especially those who are not academically inclined .

Challenges and Learning Points

How various challenges were addressed:

a) DWU built up the necessary expertise b) Reviewed the draft plans prepared by the suppliersc) Discussed the details with the WSP team members d) Conducted site auditse) Revised the plans where required, before seeking the management approval

Challenges and Learning Points

Lessons learnt:

If the requirement for preparation of water safety is not prescribed under the regulations-

• Suppliers may not invest their efforts and time in preparing such plans; and

• even if they do, the plans may not be adequate in substance.

Challenges and Learning Points

Lessons learnt:

Even though water suppliers’ staff may be familiar with ISO 9001 system, they may not be able to adequately address various hazards in the WSP due to the difference in methodology used to identify and characterize the hazards.

Challenges and Learning Points

Conclusion

Co-authors

Dr. Pranav S. Joshi

Mr. S. Satish Appoo

www.nea.gov.sg Topics – Drinking Water Unit

E-mailLam_chun_hsiang@nea.gov.sg

For more details

Thank you