3.12.2 Drinking water quality management improvement plan

Summary of actions

• Develop a drinking water quality management improvement plan.

• Ensure that the plan is communicated and implemented, and that improvements are monitored for effectiveness.

An improvement plan should be developed to address identified needs for full implementation of the drinking water quality management system. The improvement plan should be endorsed by senior executive. Improvement plans may encompass a wide range of issues such as:

• capital works;

• training;

• enhanced operational procedures;

• consultation programs;

• research and development;

• incident protocols;

• communication and reporting.

Improvement plans can include short-term (e.g. one year) or long-term programs. Short-term improvements might include actions such as enhanced mains flushing programs, increased staffing, and the development of community awareness programs. Long-term capital works projects could include covering of water storages or enhanced coagulation and filtration.

Improvement plans should include objectives, actions to be taken, accountability, timelines and reporting. They should be communicated throughout the organisation and to the community, regulators and other agencies.

Implementation of improvement plans will often have significant budgetary implications and therefore may require detailed cost–benefit analysis and careful prioritisation in accord with the outcomes of risk assessment (see Section 3.2.3). Implementation of plans should be monitored to confirm that improvements have been made and are effective.