Introduction

Water safety Plans (WSP) as defined in the third edition of the WHO Guidelines for drinking water quality (2004) as ;

A comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach that encompasses all steps in the water supply from catchment to consumer to consistently ensure the safety of water supplies.

The importance of safe drinking water for health and development has been reflected in the outcomes of many international and policy forums, from the International Conference on Primary Health Care (Alma Ata 1978 to the World Summit on Sustainable Development Johannasburg, 2002). Under the millennium development goals ,countries have committed them shelves to achieving inter-related targets for sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. The United Nations General assembly declared the period from 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action 'Water for life'

The WHO workshop on Drinking Water Quality Standards and monitoring in Pacific Island Countries (7-10 Feb 2005, Nadi Fiji, developed the framework for action on drinking water quality and Health in Pacific Island Countries, designed to support the implementation of drinking water quality actions envisioned in the overarching Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Water Management. One of the actions formulated under this framework is the development and implementation of  WATER SAFETY PLAN . The funding opportunity presented by AUSAID will greatly assist the implementation.

A downloadable fact sheet on the Drinking Water Safety Planning approach is available via this link:

DWSP fact sheet