Implementing risk-basedãpproaches to improve drinking water quality in small water supplies in the Nordic region - barriersãnd solutions

Abstract

Small water supplies face similar problems worldwide, regardless of ownership or management type. Non-compliance with water quality regulations is more frequent in small supplies than in large ones,ãsãre waterborne disease outbreaks. The new European Union Drinking Water Directive requires risk-basedãpproach (RBA) to secure water safetyãs is recommended in the World Health Organization's Guidelines for drinking water quality through 'water safety plans'. This isãlready in regulation in the Nordic countries,ãlthough less used in small supplies. In this research, we explore the challenges, barriersãnd possible solutions to implementing RBAãnd improving compliance in small supplies. This wasãchieved by conductingãndãnalysing interviews with 53 stakeholders fromãll eight Nordic countries to produce recommendations forãction by the different implicatedãctors. Our findings suggest the centrality of governmental policy, including support for continuous training, provision of simple RBA guidelinesãnd increasing cooperation in the water sector. The Nordic experience reflects global challenges with small water suppliesãnd the trend towards systematic preventive management epitomized in the framework for drinking water safetyãdvocated by the World Health Organization since 2004.