Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
6.4.4 Australia
A discussion within the Australian water industry had taken place about a new risk-
based approach for managing drinking water quality. In 1996, the National Health
and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) published the
Australian Drinking
Water Guidelines.
This document served as an addition to the guidance and
standards associated with drinking water quality, and it was similar in approach to
the WHO guidelines. Moreover, the document endorsed for the first time the use of
quality management systems (McClellan 1998 ). However, in 1998, drinking water
in Sydney was contaminated with Cryptosporidium and Giardia (McClellan 1998 ).
This led to the adoption of a framework for managing drinking water quality that
was incorporated into the
in 2004 (Aus-
tralian Government of National Health and Medical Research Council 2004 ). The
Australian Government and the states and territories implemented a water safety
plan called the
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
Framework for Management of Drinking Water Quality
(ADWG)
and
(CWP), a tool for achieving quality drinking
water in Australia (Byleveld et al. 2008 ).
Community Water Planner
1. Framework for Management of Drinking Water Quality in Australia
The framework played a critical role in drinking water quality management. It
included elements of HACCP as well as ISO 9001. It provided information for all
steps of drinking water production from source to tap and was used by the Aus-
tralian community and the water supply industry (Australian Government of
National Health and Medical Research Council 2004 ). The framework consisted of
four general areas with 12 elements (see Table 6.4 ). The four areas are:
a. Commitment. To commit to establish a drinking water quality policy, reg-
ulatory and formal requirements.
b. System analysis and management. To assess the risk within the water
supply system by conducting water supply system analysis and identifying
the existing potential hazards and their sources as well as to measure pro-
actively and control the drinking water quality.
c. Supporting requirements. To support management of the supply system
through employee training, community involvement, as well as systematic
documentation.
d. Review. To evaluate long-term performance, audit the effectiveness of the
drinking water quality management system, and develop the plan to
improve water quality management.
The framework was used to ensure that all the necessary elements of drinking
water quality management were addressed and go beyond ISO 9001 and HACCP
(Australian Government of National Health and Medical Research Council 2004 ).
For example, as indicated in Table 6.4 , the Australian framework and HACCP
provide the identi
cation of hazardous events as well as a systematic approach to
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