Water Safety Plan - Surveillance Mechanism: A Case Study

Three natural resources, viz. water, food and air must forever constitute the survival bases of human and other populations and we will pay for them whatever they cost in Time, Money and Effort, since existence of life depends on them. Water is important because its use underlies all the human activities and is also a propagator of many diseases. An adequate supply of the safe drinking water is one of the major prerequisites for a healthy life, which according to the World Health Organization, poses a continual challenge. Water borne disease is still a major cause of death in many parts of the world, particularly in children. Management of safe drinking water includes risk analysis to identify priority hazardous scenarios. Pathogens are often considered to be a higher health risk issue for municipal water supplies than chemicals, even if arsenic or fluoride content is high. This can be attributed to the fact that the manifestations of bacterial contamination are quicker (at times can cause an epidemic) as compared to those due to chemical contamination, of course this precludes the large accidental discharges of toxic contaminants. And, also the fact that the water is usually already consumed by the time the bacterial contamination is even detected, because by far the consumers largely depend on only their visual sense and tasting. Disinfection By-Products (DBP) like Trihalomethanes (THM) and others are also increasingly being recognized as higher risk issue of concern to human health. The Third edition of WHO guidelines on Drinking Water Quality stresses on the so-called catchment-to-consumer approach rather than testing the quality at the tail ends to ensure water safety. This paper presents the general principles of development of a water safety plan, particularly water quality surveillance aspects. A pilot study was conducted in select area in Delhi city encompassing different income groups, with a view to developing the framework for surveillance mechanism to meet the water safety plan. The study looked at the preventive strategies where risks to human health is proactively identified, assessed and managed through surveillance and water safety plans. Such plans are developed to ensure that each component of the system, viz. source, treatment, conveyance mains, storage, and distribution, will function with manageable risk of failure and contamination.