2.1 A preventive strategy from catchment to consumer

The most effective means of assuring drinking water quality and the protection of public health is through adoption of a preventive management approach that encompasses all steps in water production from catchment to consumer.

In the Australian water industry, risk management and quality management are increasingly being used as a means of assuring drinking water quality by strengthening the focus on more preventive approaches. Some water authorities have implemented management systems based on ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management, AS/NZS 4360:2004 Risk Management and the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system that has been adopted internationally by the food industry.

These available frameworks provide generic requirements for organisations undertaking a diverse range of activities. As such, they are not intuitively translated to management of drinking water quality, and therefore result in a range of interpretations and applications within the water industry. Furthermore, management of drinking water quality from catchment to consumer poses several challenges that are unique to the water industry and that may not be sufficiently addressed in these models.

The Framework was developed to guide the design of a structured and systematic approach for the management of drinking water quality from catchment to consumer, to assure its safety and reliability.

The Framework incorporates a preventive risk management approach; it includes elements of HACCP, ISO 9001 and AS/NZS 4360:2004, but applies them in a drinking water supply context to support consistent and comprehensive implementation by suppliers.

The Framework addresses four general areas, which are described below and illustrated in Figure 2.1:

• Commitment to drinking water quality management. This involves developing a commitment to drinking water quality management within the organisation. Adoption of the philosophy of the Framework is not sufficient in itself to ensure its effectiveness and continual improvement. Successful implementation requires the active participation of senior executive and a supportive organisational philosophy.

• System analysis and management. This involves understanding the entire water supply system, the hazards and events that can compromise drinking water quality, and the preventive measures and operational control necessary for assuring safe and reliable drinking water.

• Supporting requirements. These requirements include basic elements of good practice such as employee training, community involvement, research and development, validation of process efficacy, and systems for documentation and reporting.

• Review. This includes evaluation and audit processes and their review by senior executive to ensure that the management system is functioning satisfactorily. These components provide a basis for review and continual improvement.