Water Services National Training Group and National Federation of Group Water Schemes 7 th Annual Rural Water Services Conference 18 th September 2008
Mar 29, 2015
Water Services National Training Group and
National Federation of Group Water Schemes
7th Annual Rural Water Services Conference
18th September 2008
Drinking Water Incident Response Management and Planning
Peter O’Reilly
Senior Engineer
Fingal County Council
Incident/Emergency planning
Why prepare ?
Prevention - Minimise the risk
Emergencies – examples
Response - expectations
Training programme- WSNTG 2006
Drinking Water Incident Management
Why Prepare?
Public Health - implications of service failure
Maintaining customer confidence in water supply
Regulatory requirements
Not so long ago
Wash day
Current ExpectationsQuantity 148 lhd
QualityEU DWD DW Regs 2007
Continuityuninterrupted
Cost !!?
But…..Things Go Wrong !
Prevention is better than cure!
Reduce risk
Minimise risk
Source / catchment
Treatment
Distribution system
Customer side
Source
Storage/Service Reservoir
EmergenciesAre sudden
Stretch resources
Break continuity/confidence in service
Need different levels of response as they vary in size and complexity
Can involve a large number of stakeholders
Emergencies
QualityContaminationTaste and Odour
QuantityBurstsLeaksDrought
Leixlip WTP
Burst
Repair
Drought
Drought ?
Knocksedan
Emergencies- what customers expect
What is the problem?Will I be affected?How long will it last?What must I do?What will be done to minimise the disruption?When will things return to normal?
StaffExperienced
Competent
Well trained – WSNTG courses
Ready and available to respond
Resources
Emergency Response Centre
Communication
CLARITY
WSNTG Training
Drinking Water Incident Management (DWIM)
Background
Increase in number of Incidents
Greater variation in Incidents
Increase in Customer Expectations
Need for Incident Management
Scope
All Incidents: Contamination Interruption
All aspects of the drinking water system: Sources Treatment Distribution System to the consumer's draw off point.
“Water Suppliers" Water Services Authorities Group Water Scheme sector.
Change in the Water Sector in Ireland
Legislation Drinking Water Regulations (SI 278 of 2007)
Water Services Act 2007
Supervisory Role of the EPA/WSA Proactive role
High profile incidents Media focus on drinking water quality Now front page news
Framework for Security of Water Supply
Preventative Measures
Water Safety Plans
Scheme Level
Source to Tap
Reactive Measures
Incident Management
Water Services Authority Level
Role of the EPA/WSA
Supervisory role for the EPA for public water supplies
Supervisory role for the WSA for group water schemes
Role of the HSEWSA to consult with HSE in determining if a drinking water supply constitutes a potential danger to human health (Regulation 9) and if so
The actions by the WSA to restrict supply and inform consumers are subject to agreement with the HSE,
The issue of a direction under Regulation 9(2) is subject to agreement with the HSE
Medical Officer of Health: previously a local authority appointment (now HSE, reporting to the Assistant Director for Health Protection). Generally the MoH’s decision to implement a boil notice, if required
Current liaison arrangements: Water Quality Liaison groups / Incident Response Teams (IRT)
Terminology
Drinking Water Incident Management (DWIM): To describe the range of procedures and processes
deployed to manage a Drinking Water Incident
Drinking Water Incident Response Plan (DWIRP): A plan prepared by a water services authority to
document the procedures, processes and information to support the management of a Drinking Water Incident.
Project Deliverables
1. Template 2. Guidance Document 3. Research CD
Conclusions
Emergencies happen
Be prepared
Have a plan
Drinking Water Incident Management (DWIM)
Water Services National Training Group and
National Federation of Group Water Schemes
7th Annual Rural Water Services Conference
18th September 2008