Guidelines for the Preparation of Water Safety Plans - Resilient to Climate Change for Rural Water Supply Services.

These Guidelines for the Preparation of Climate-Resilient Water Safety Plans (CR-WSPs) provide crucial guidance for rural communities. Their core purpose is to equip managers of rural water supplies with the tools to thoroughly understand their systems, proactively identify potential problems, implement robust preventative measures, and ensure the consistent safety of drinking water amidst evolving climate challenges. Specifically, the Guidelines aim to (i) provide guidance to rural communities in the steps involved in preparation of WSP; (ii) guide Community Owned Water Supply and Sanitation Organizations (COWSOs) on integrating climate change considerations into CR-WSPs; (iii) support COWSOs in the effective implementation of their CR-WSPs; (iv) serve as a quick reference for authorities, academicians, and all stakeholders interested in CR-WSPs. There is a need to improve the climate resilience of water supply services to cater for the whole range of climate change risks, including extreme weather events, increasing resource stresses and ensuing water quality and quantity issues. A Water Safety Plan (WSP), which is a pro-active and comprehensive risk management approach to ensure the safety and security of drinking-water supplies, provides a valuable framework to address these issues. The Guidelines will assist COWSOs to identify hazards, hazardous events and the associated risks at every stage of the water supply system and thereafter put in place respective control measures.
According to the Guidelines, to prepare Water Safety Plans, the main measures to be taken include (i) conduct climate vulnerability and adaptation assessment to assess climate risks at regional, ecological, or climatic zone levels; (ii) community engagement and assembling the WSP team with expertise in water supply, health, and environmental management; (iii) describe the community water supply system, including sources, treatment, storage, and distribution; (iv) identify hazards, hazardous events, assess risks that could compromise water safety, and evaluate existing control measures; (v) develop and implement an incremental improvement plan to address identified risks with specific actions, responsible parties, and timelines; (vi) monitor control measures and verify effectiveness through water quality testing and audits; (vii) document, review, and improve WSP implementation, establishing procedures for normal and emergency operations, regularly reviewing and updating the WSP based on new information and experiences.