LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN NET FOR WATER SAFETY PLANS:
PSA-LAC NETWORK
The Water Safety Plans (WSP) respond to an initiative of the World Organization of Health (WHO) and they consider general objective the characterization of risks to the health in the systems of water supply, what impacts in the improvement of the quality of the service.
A group of organizations has constituted the Security Plans network of the Water for Latin America and the Caribbean (NETWORK PSA-LAC). This is integrated by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention U.S. (CDC), the Inter-American Association of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, (AIDIS) and the International Water Association (IWA).
According to the WHO, the major benefit to develop and to implement a Plan of Security of the Water in drinking water supply systems includes the systematization, evaluation detailed and priorization of the dangers that faces the service and the quality, besides an operational monitoring through the multiple barriers or measures of control.
Additionally, it indicates as another quality of a PSA that of providing for a system or process organized and structured, the minimization of changes or fail by carelessness or errors of administration and contingencies plans to respond to objections in the system or events of unexpected risks. This aspect is a valuable contribute to the professionalization of the sector.
It is important to emphasize that the success of the PSA depends on the commitment in each country of the organizations involved in the development and implementation of it, which requires an approach with multidisciplinary and inter-institutional focus in which they should participate the government, regulating, businesses or water services and sanitary lenders institutions, authorities of basin, of health, of environment, municipal and community organized; that should be incorporated The local actions of the PSA-LAC Network.
The approach of PSA has been developed to organize and systematize a long history of practices of management they applied to drinking water distribution and for assure the enforceability of these practices to the quality of the installment. It is based on diverse principles and risks management concepts, and among so many other tools, arises of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), system that identifies, evaluates and controls significant risks for the security in the food. This system provides a methodology to identify and evaluate the different associated risks to the different phases of the production. This method had its origin in the 60s in United States, through the alimentary and chemical industry. Besides, as it is known, the application of the HACCP system is compatible with it set in motion of the quality management systems, such as them contemplated in ISO 9000 norms.
The main objective of a PSA is to assure the good quality of the drinking water, for which is necessary:
- Preventing the contamination of water sources
- Reducing or to remove the contamination that is presented through the process of processing all whatever is necessary, to reach the objectives of water quality required.
- Preventing the re-contamination during the storage, distribution and management of drinking water, whether by human mistake, accidents, technical failures or natural phenomena.
The main objective of the PSA-LAC Network will be to promote the improvement of provisions security systems of drinking water in Latin America and the Caribbean Region, through the rapid development and implementation of the Water Safety Plans.
To the date, an agreement has been subscribed between AIDIS and CDC to support this initiative. In this one the execution of a workshop of experts is included to conclude the strategic plan of the network, action that already has been carried out in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in April 9th-10th 2008. Also, the organization of a round table for the official launch of the Network PSA-LAC in the framework of the XXXI Inter-American Congress of AIDIS, to be celebrated in Santiago of Chile, from October 12th to 15th. To assure the growth and consolidation of this initiative besides give monitoring to the agreements and projects, the managements are being carried out for hire a Network Coordinator, that will have as headquarters the Pan-american Center of Sanitary Engineering and Sciences of the Environment (CEPIS/OPS), in Lima, Peru.
To get more information, please acces this nets:
http://www.who.int/wsportal
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/gdwq3rev
http://www.who.int/wsportal/bonn/en/
Also read these documents:
Action Plan - June 2008
Strategic Plan - June 2008
LAC WSP Fact Sheet June08 (English)
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