Water Services National Training Group and National Federation of Group Water Schemes

1. Water Services National Training Group and National Federation of Group Water Schemes 7th Annual Rural Water Services Conference 18th September 2008

2. Drinking Water Incident Response Management and Planning Peter O’Reilly Senior Engineer Fingal County Council

3. Incident/Emergency planning • Why prepare ? • Prevention - Minimise the risk • Emergencies – examples • Response - expectations • Training programme - WSNTG 2006 • Drinking Water Incident Management

4. Why Prepare? • Public Health - implications of service failure • Maintaining customer confidence in water supply • Regulatory requirements

5. Current Expectations • Quantity • 148 lhd • Quality • EU DWD • DW Regs 2007 • Continuity • uninterrupted • Cost !!?

6. But…..Things Go Wrong ! • Prevention is better than cure! • Reduce risk

7. Minimise risk • Source / catchment • Treatment • Distribution system • Customer side

8. Emergencies • Are 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

9. Emergencies • Quality • Contamination • Taste and Odour • Quantity • Bursts • Leaks • Drought

10. 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?

11. Staff • Experienced • Competent • Well trained – WSNTG courses • Ready and available to respond • Resources

12. Communication • CLARITY

13. WSNTG Training • Drinking Water Incident Management (DWIM)

14. Background • Increase in number of Incidents • Greater variation in Incidents • Increase in Customer Expectations • Need for Incident Management

15. 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.

16. 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

17. Preventative Measures Water Safety Plans Scheme Level Source to Tap Reactive Measures Incident Management Water Services Authority Level Framework for Security of Water Supply

18. Role of the EPA/WSA • Supervisory role for the EPA for public water supplies • Supervisory role for the WSA for group water schemes

19. Role of the HSE • WSA 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)

20. 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.

21. Conclusions • Emergencies happen • Be prepared • Have a plan • Drinking Water Incident Management (DWIM)

22. Water Services National Training Group and National Federation of Group Water Schemes 7th Annual Rural Water Services Conference 18th September 2008