Improving Risk Assessments by Sanitary Inspection for Small Drinking-Water Supplies—Qualitative Evidence

Katherine Pond, Richard King, Jo Herschan, Rosalind Malcolm, Rory Moses McKeown and Oliver Schmoll
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Katherine Pond: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK
Richard King: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK
Jo Herschan: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK
Rosalind Malcolm: School of Law, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK
Rory Moses McKeown: Consultant, World Health Organization (WHO), Avenue Appia 20, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Oliver Schmoll: World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Resources, 2020, vol. 9, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: Small drinking-water supplies face particular challenges in terms of their management. Being vulnerable to contamination but often not monitored regularly nor well-maintained, small drinking-water supplies may pose consequences for health of users. Sanitary inspection (SI) is a risk assessment tool to identify and manage observable conditions of the water supply technology or circumstances in the catchment area that may favour certain hazardous events and introduce hazards which may become a risk to health. This qualitative research aimed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the SI tool as published by the World Health Organisation to inform a review and update of the forms and to improve their robustness. The study identified a number of benefits of the approach, such as its simplicity and ease of use. Challenges were also identified, such as potential for inconsistencies in perception of risk between inspectors, in interpreting questions, and lack of follow-up action. The authors recommend a revision of the existing SI forms to address the identified challenges and development of complementary advice on possible remedial action to address identified risk factors and on basic operations and maintenance.

Keywords: drinking-water quality; risk assessment; risk management; microbial contamination; sanitary inspection; small water supply (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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