3.5.3 Short-term evaluation of results

Summary of actions

• Establish procedures for the daily review of drinking water quality monitoring data and consumer satisfaction.

• Develop reporting mechanisms internally, and externally, where required.

Short-term performance evaluation entails the daily reviewing of drinking water quality monitoring data and consumer satisfaction to verify that the quality of water supplied to consumers conforms with guideline values and microbial health-based targets. If the quality does not conform, then immediate corrective actions and/or incident and emergency response should be implemented.

Those responsible for interpreting and recording results should clearly understand how results should be assessed and, if required, how and where they should be communicated. Monitoring results should be reviewed within appropriate timeframes, and compared with previous results, established guideline values, and any regulatory requirements or agreed levels of service. Procedures for performance evaluation and recording of results should be established and documented. Mechanisms and responsibilities should be identified for the reporting of results internally to operators and senior executives as well as externally, where required, to stakeholders such as regulators and consumers (see Section 3.10.2).

Section 10.2 provides further discussion on short-term evaluation of results.