Richard Walker

1. Water Safety Conference 2010 Richard Walker Tips for Implementing Water Safety Plans

2. Water Corporation- Water Supply Profile • Main supplier of drinking water in Western Australia (WA) • 2 million customers spread over 2 million km2 (~10 times the size of the United Kingdom) 245 water distribution schemes in urban, rural and remote communities Raw water originates from a wide variety of sources Surface water Groundwater Sea water Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

3. Water Safety Plans (WSPs) – A Short History • 2004 • Latest version of Australian Drinking Water Guidelines • Featured “Framework for Managing Drinking Water Quality” • Framework comprises 11 Elements • Water Corporation commenced preparation of WSPs • Vehicle to ensure meet the requirements of • Element 2 – Assessment of drinking water supply system • Element 3 – Preventive measures for drinking water quality management • Element 4 – Operational procedures & process controls • 2010 • Completed 160/250 WSPs • Many have been revised several times Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

4. Tips and Lessons • We want • Quality plans and • Quality implementation • Highly successful • -multiple revisions • -under pressure from operators to complete all WSPs • Spontaneous acclaim from operations • Lessons learnt • -WSP preparation and development • -systems to support WSP implementation • -senior management support & corporate governance Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

5. Tips for Water Safety Plan Development Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

6. Pathogens Chemicals Naegleria WSP Disinfection By Products Pesticides Prioritisation (How do I start?) Aesthetics Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

7. Pathogens Chemicals Naegleria WSP Disinfection By Products Pesticides Prioritisation (How do I start?) cont’d Aesthetics • Which hazards do you want WSPs to help you manage? • The more you tackle • The longer it takes • The bigger the plan Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

8. Pathogens Chemicals Naegleria WSP Disinfection By Products Pesticides Initial Water Corporation focus for WSPs Nitrate Compliance Aesthetics Judgement call based on Understanding of water quality principles Knowledge of systems and performance Experience, especially attitudes of Health Department, Executive Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

9. WSP Teamwork • Team members are • Dedicated WSP planners (head office) plus • Actual operators of the scheme plus • Regional co-ordinator • Asset plans are often inaccurate/incomplete • Schemes cannot be operated as they were designed • An accurate schematic is essential for the WSP • Only the operator knows the TRUTH Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

10. WSP Teamwork • Planners must • Meet the operator on site (up to 4000km trip) • Plan well for that meeting • Draft schematic • Review of monitoring data • Draft hazard analysis Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

11. Setting the water quality specification • Fundamental questions • What must I have? • What can I accept? Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

12. Pragmatic Approach Critical control points are non negotiable Eg. Chlorinator set point must give Ct >15 for first customer for effective distribution Process Control Points need to be practical Eg. Chlorine residual at end of distribution should be >0.2mg/L to prevent regrowth, protection for backflow But if this is not possible all of the time Eg. Asset configuration, customer complaints, DBPs Then you need to decide if <0.2 mg/L is OK? Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

13. What are you asking of an Operator? Every out of spec monitoring result is a call for action. If the operator can’t correct by operational change then Use the action plan to highlight need for asset changes to allow Corporate Standards to be achieved Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

14. How frequently do I monitor? CCPs – continuously PCP - ? Utility to decide Practices are likely to vary widely from site to site Opportunity to standardise Water Corporation applied – risk principles - input from Operators with accountability for WQ outcomes Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

15. How frequently do I monitor? Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

16. How can WSPs be made useful for Operators? • The WSP is typically 10 – 30 pages • Too long for an operator • Water Corporation developed a “one page process control plan” • What an operator needs to do to deliver acceptable water quality • Process control plan contains • Schematic • Operating strategy • Process control table • Specification • Monitoring plan • Response to out of spec conditions • Sign off by responsible managers Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

17. Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

18. The operating strategy for Bindoon-Chittering water supply involves: • Treatment for iron removal and pH correction is continuous and effective at all times (treated water outlet iron < 0.2 mg/L and pH between 6.5 and 8.5). • Ensuring continuous and effective disinfection (Ct > 15) • Maintaining chlorine residuals throughout the storages (> 0.5mg/L) and reticulation (> 0.3mg/L) • Process Control Table Process Control Table Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

19. Operating Strategy • The operating strategy for Bindoon-Chittering water supply involves: • Treatment for iron removal and pH correction is continuous and effective at all times (treated water outlet iron < 0.2 mg/L and pH • between 6.5 and 8.5). • Ensuring continuous and effective disinfection (Ct > 15) • Maintaining chlorine residuals throughout the storages (> 0.5mg/L) and reticulation (> 0.3mg/L) Production (kL/day) Note: Data from July 2003 to June 2007 for WRC Chittering Licence Action Plan Maintenance Improvements Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

20. Endorsement • This process control table is endorsed for implementation. • The Midwest Region agrees to implement the operating strategy. • The Drinking Water Quality Branch agrees to provide corporate systems, processes and advice to assist the Midwest Region • with implementation. Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

21. Tips for Systems to Support Water Safety Plan Implementation Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

22. Target ranges – how can I remember them all? • Sample point stickers with residual targets • Focusing on Chlorine residuals • Fast response Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

23. Personal Data Acquisition Acceptable range is preprogrammed Prompt to recheck if out of spec Prompt for remedial action if out of spec confirmed On line up date Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

24. Email notification system – Out of spec Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

25. Email notification system – Sample overdue Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

26. Tips for Senior Management Support Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

27. Senior Management Support • How to move Corporate focus from • E coli in the reticulation to • Operational Performance • Source Protection • Filtration • Disinfection • Chlorine residuals ? • Make it easier for Managers to manage ……… Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

28. Governance Report • The “Governance Report” provides an overview of key Drinking Water Quality management information in one report (Catchment to Tap) • Introduces a common and standard reporting approach on water quality throughout the state, which establishes due diligence and credibility • It shows a summary of compliance and operational reports with drill down capabilities for further detail Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

29. Governance Report Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

30. Water Safety Plan Performance Review & Reporting Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

31. Water Safety Plan Performance Review & Reporting Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

32. Water Safety Plan Performance Review & Reporting Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

33. Corporate Profile • Corporate Water Quality Committee • Leadership/governance role eg. • WSP production target (30 pa) • Operational monitoring target (95%) • Critical limit performance (100%) • Feedback • Negative (please explain) • Positive (eg. 100% chlorine meters calibrated) Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

34. Conclusion • Successful WSP planning is a team effort • Central Branch provide • Vision • Understanding of WQ management principles • Pragmatic decision for local circumstances • Operators provide • Asset information and condition • Operating information • Monitoring service Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

35. Conclusion cont’d • Central Branch provide • Systems to help operators to implement SWPs • Management information • Senior Management • Review performance • Determine targets/expectations • Provide positive feedback Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

36. Conclusion cont’d • Payback • Common focus for Corporation • Clear requirements for Operators • Reduced incidents • Higher confidence Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia