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This report provides a synthesis of water safety plan (WSP) implementation efforts in Ghana. It highlights the implementation status, enabling environment, challenges, opportunities, and relevant recommendations for improvement.

This Water safety plan manual provides practical guidance to support development and implementation of water safety planning in accordance with the principles presented in the WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality.

The manual is targeted at water suppliers and organizations supporting water safety planning programmes, including government agencies responsible for public health, or regulation and surveillance of drinking-water quality, nongovernmental or intergovernmental organizations. The guidance provides a broad range of examples and case studies from lower- to higher-income settings, highlighting practical solutions to real-world challenges from around the globe to help readers apply the guidance in diverse contexts.

This second edition streamlines guidance on the integration of climate resilience and equity into the water safety planning approach, to help support access to safely managed drinking-water services for all users, despite growing uncertainties from a changing climate.

聯同《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，此範本納入了醫院設施經理的意見，以協助管理人員制訂和實施水安全計劃，提升醫院內的食水安全。

聯同《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，此範本納入了醫院設施經理的意見，以協助管理人員制訂和實施水安全計劃，提升醫院內的食水安全。

In conjunction with the Guidelines for Drinking Water Safety Plans for Buildings in Hong Kong, this template is prepared incorporating input from facility managers of hospitals for management staff to develop and implement Water Safety Plan to enhance water safety in hospitals.

聯同《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，此範本旨在為安老院舍的業主或院舍管理人員提供易於使用的工具，為具有獨立內部供水系統的院舍制訂和實施水安全計劃，提升食水安全。

聯同《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，此範本旨在為安老院舍的業主或院舍管理人員提供易於使用的工具，為具有獨立內部供水系統的院舍制訂和實施水安全計劃，提升食水安全。

In conjunction with the Guidelines for Drinking Water Safety Plans for Buildings in Hong Kong, this template is prepared as an easy-to-use tool for owners or house management staff of residential care homes for the elderly with an independent internal plumbing system to develop and implement Water Safety Plan to enhance water safety.

聯同《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，此範本旨在為校舍管理負責人提供易於使用的工具，以制訂和實施水安全計劃，提升食水安全。

聯同《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，此範本旨在為校舍管理負責人提供易於使用的工具，以制訂和實施水安全計劃，提升食水安全。

聯同《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，此範本旨在為業主或物業管理人提供易於使用的工具，為具有一般供水系統的建築物（如住宅及辦公室大廈）制訂和實施建築物水安全計劃。

聯同《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，此範本旨在為業主或物業管理人提供易於使用的工具，為具有一般供水系統的建築物（如住宅及辦公室大廈）制訂和實施建築物水安全計劃。

In conjunction with the Guidelines for Drinking Water Safety Plans for Buildings in Hong Kong, this template is prepared as an easy-to-use tool for persons-in-charge of schools’ house management to develop and implement Water Safety Plan to enhance water safety.

根據世界衞生組織的建議，香港水務署於2017年制訂了《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，協助業主和物業管理人制訂和實施水安全計劃，以提升建築物的食水安全。指引及相關範本於2022年進行修訂並納入了最新資訊和實施經驗。截至2023年5月，全港約有4,000幢建築物實施了建築物水安全計劃，涵蓋逾百萬住戶。

In conjunction with the Guidelines for Drinking Water Safety Plans for Buildings in Hong Kong, this template is prepared as an easy-to-use tool for owners and property management agents to develop and implement Water Safety Plan for buildings with general plumbing systems such as residential and office buildings.

根據世界衞生組織的建議，香港水務署於2017年制訂了《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，協助業主和物業管理人制訂和實施水安全計劃，以提升建築物的食水安全。指引及相關範本於2022年進行修訂並納入了最新資訊和實施經驗。截至2023年5月，全港約有4,000幢建築物實施了建築物水安全計劃，涵蓋逾百萬住戶。

Based on the World Health Organization’s recommendations, the Water Supplies Department of Hong Kong developed the Guidelines for Drinking Water Safety Plans for Buildings in Hong Kong in 2017 to assist owners and property management agents in developing and implementing Water Safety Plans to enhance water safety in buildings. The guidelines and associated templates were revised in 2022 incorporating updated information and implementation experiences. As at May 2023, about 4,000 buildings in Hong Kong have implemented Water Safety Plan for Buildings covering more than one million households.

根據世界衞生組織的建議，香港水務署於2017年制訂了《香港建築物食水安全計劃指引》，協助業主和物業管理人制訂和實施水安全計劃，以提升建築物的食水安全。指引及相關範本於2022年進行修訂並納入了最新資訊和實施經驗。截至2023年5月，全港約有4,000幢建築物實施了建築物水安全計劃，涵蓋逾百萬住戶。

Practical guidance and training materials for small- and medium-sized water suppliers, and for those providing training and support to these suppliers, on strengthening operational monitoring practices – a core element of water safety planning. Training materials include a facilitator’s guide and PowerPoint slides.

Practical guidance and training materials for small- and medium-sized water supplies, and for those providing training and support to these suppliers, on strengthening chlorination practices – a common improvement need identified through the WSP process in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions. Training materials include a facilitator’s guide and PowerPoint slides, and basic standard operating procedures and calculation sheets for effective and safe chlorination. The materials are based on training programmes delivered in the regions.

The lack of access to safe drinking-water is felt disproportionately by those who are disadvantaged socially, economically, demographically or geographically, and explicit consideration of these groups is required to understand and address disparities.

This document describes how, with relatively modest efforts, the water safety plan (WSP) approach can bring tangible improvements in water quality and availability for all users. By providing step-by-step guidance for all WSP stakeholders, as well as good practice examples from a broad range of countries and contexts, this document serves as a practical tool to help achieve safe water for all.

The electronic version of the PowerPoint slides presented in Tool F of the document, available under “Downloads” above, is intended to facilitate the integration of equity considerations into standard WSP training events.

Water safety plans (WPS) have been implemented in every region of the world, and many implementing countries have included WSPs in drinking-water policies or regulations. Enforcement of WSP requirements, as well as general WSP success and sustainability, requires ongoing WSP auditing, i.e. independent and systematic checks of WSP completeness, implementation in practice and effectiveness.

This training package presents guidance on preparing for and conducting a WSP audit, covering such topics as the aim and role of auditing, audit criteria, audit timing and frequency and audit reporting. It provides practical tools to support auditors conduct successful audits for continuous WSP improvement.

The successful development and implementation of WSPs have many benefits common to all drinking water systems, with some that are unique to each system. The major benefit of implementation contributes to improving drinking water safety and quality. To achieve this WSPs provide a framework for risk reduction prevention of hazards and a better response to emergencies, which not only improves public health but can ensure better watershed management and resilience to climate impacts.

This tool is intended to support the practical application of the guidance presented in the Water safety plan manual: step-by-step risk management for drinking-water suppliers, second edition (WHO & IWA, 2023). Refer to Module 4 in the manual for detailed guidance.

This tool provides examples of risk matrices, to illustrate the wide range of options that could be adopted for risk assessment as part of water safety planning.

This tool is intended to support the practical application of the guidance presented in the Water safety plan manual: step-by-step risk management for drinking-water suppliers, second edition (WHO & IWA, 2023). Refer to Module 10 in the manual for detailed guidance.

This tool provides key questions and considerations for conducting successful water safety plan (WSP) reviews, including post-event reviews (e.g. following a significant incident, near miss or emergency). It can also support reviews with a particular focus on strengthening equity and climate considerations as part of continuous WSP improvement.

This tool is intended to support the practical application of the guidance presented in the Water safety plan manual: step-by-step risk management for drinking-water suppliers, second edition (WHO & IWA, 2023).  Refer to Module 8 in the manual for detailed guidance.

To support preparedness for emergency responses and unforeseen events in accordance with Module 8, use this checklist to consider what needs to be in place in the local context.

This tool is intended to support the practical application of the guidance presented in the Water safety plan manual: step-by-step risk management for drinking-water suppliers, second edition (WHO & IWA, 2023). Refer to Module 3 in the manual for detailed guidance.

WSP teams can use this tool to help identify possible threats to water safety, which will inform the identification of hazards and hazardous events (Module 3).

This tool is intended to support the practical application of the guidance presented in the Water safety plan manual: step-by-step risk management for drinking-water suppliers, second edition (WHO & IWA, 2023). Refer to Module 2 in the manual for detailed guidance.

The checklist below supports water safety plan (WSP) teams with describing the water supply (Module 2). It includes key information to consider and summarize when describing each stage of the water supply, including:

• general system information (including equity- and climate-related aspects);
• source (including surface water and groundwater aspects, and the catchment);
• treatment;
• distribution and storage;
• user practices (including buildings);
• water safety aspects (e.g. national drinking-water quality regulations and standards, historical water quality data, customer notifications and complaints); and
• known or potential problems in the system.

Water safety plans (WSPs) are the most effective means of consistently ensuring the safety of a drinking water supply. This WSP manual describes how to develop and implement a WSP in clear and practical terms. Stepwise advice is provided through 11 learning modules, each representing a key step in the WSP development and implementation process.

The WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality recommend the water safety plan (‎WSP)‎ approach as the most effective way of ensuring continuous provision of safe drinking-water.

The challenges related to drinking-water supply in rural areas and small towns are of notable concern globally, but the WSP approach has been proven to work effectively in small-scale water supplies. It clearly emphasizes the importance of preventing waterborne disease, and supports communities in dealing with the everyday challenges of maintaining a reliable and safe water supply.

This second, updated edition of WHO’s Water safety plan: a field guide to improving drinking-water safety in small communities provides a step-by-step introduction to the WSP approach and includes a range of ready-to-use templates to assist those involved in rural water supply with developing and implementing their own WSPs.

This package of materials is intended to support countries in developing (or strengthening) national schemes for regulatory auditing of water safety plans. Topics addressed include audit mandates and drivers, standardized audit criteria, auditor qualification and selection processes, financing and other mechanisms for audit functionality and sustainability. The materials are intended to facilitate a stakeholder workshop to discuss the ‘key factors and principles’ for establishing a successful and sustainable audit programme, the output of which is a detailed action plan for the development (or advancement) of a context-appropriate national audit scheme.

The Water Safety Conference 2022 recording are available to the public under the “Conference record” page on the conference webpage. https://watersafety2022.org/conference-record/

This publication is a guideline or how-to manual on preparing water service delivery plans with a focus on small to medium sized organised water utilities having with approximately 5,000 to over 100,000 connections mainly in areas with limited capacity and resources. The manual is simplified enough to ensure that these utilities are able to move from a situation where they are struggling to deliver water services to where basic service levels in terms of water quality, quantity, accessibility, reliability, affordability, and acceptability are met. Meeting these basic service levels provides a strong foundation for the utility to progressively move up the ladder of delivering improved services.

Access the publication on IWAP.

Tailored guidance package to support rural water safety planning in Sri Lanka. Includes stepwise instructions for trainers to conduct a rural WSP training incorporating a field visit.

This interactive tool supports the implementation of the WSP step of hazard assessment by providing an overview of hazardous events, including those relating to climate change. The compilation was piloted and adapted based on experiences gathered, and aims to support practitioners, particularly water suppliers, health agencies and consultants, in implementing WSPs for climate resiliance. It was piloted in large (urban), professionally managed water supplies in limited resource settings, however, can also be applied and adapted for water supplies in other settings. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, and may need to be adapted for application in the local context. It is intended to complement existing comprehensive guidance for implementation by providing a tool for practical application.

Water safety plans (WSPs) represent a holistic risk assessment and management approach covering all steps in the water supply process from the catchment to the consumer. Since 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) has formally recommended WSPs as a public health intervention to consistently ensure the safety of drinking water. These risk management programs apply to all water supplies in all countries, including small community supplies and large urban systems in both developed and developing settings. As of 2017, more than 90 countries had adopted various permutations of WSPs at different scales, ranging from limited-scale voluntary pilot programs to nationwide implementation mandated by legislative requirements. Tools to support WSP implementation include primary and supplemental manuals in multiple languages, training resources, assessment tools, and some country-specific guidelines and case studies.

Systems employing the WSP approach seek to incrementally improve water quality and security by reducing risks and increasing resilience over time. To maintain WSP effectiveness, water supply managers periodically update WSPs to integrate knowledge about prior, existing, and potential future risks. Effectively implemented WSPs may translate to positive health and other impacts. Impact evaluation has centered on a logic model developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as WHO-refined indicators that compare water system performance to pre-WSP baseline conditions. Potential benefits of WSPs include improved cost efficiency, water quality, water conservation, regulatory compliance, operational performance, and disease reduction. Available research shows outcomes vary depending on site-specific context, and challenges remain in using WSPs to achieve lasting improvements in water safety. Future directions for WSP development include strengthening and sustaining capacity-building to achieve consistent application and quality, refining evaluation indicators to better reveal linked outcomes (including economic impacts), and incorporating social equity and climate change readiness.

These guidelines and training materials have been produced by UNICEF Pacific and encompass a number of tools to expand and strengthen the work of governments and other partners to improve water, sanitation and hygiene services, whilst building resilience for communities in the Pacific. The guidance collates current approaches and previous guidance on WASH and resilience in one location, covering theory, guidance and practical tools. By addressing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in a comprehensive approach across the disaster and climate risk continuum, it serves as a contribution to the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific.

Water is a fundamental need in every person’s life and ensuring access to safe water for all without discrimination is a human right, recognized by the United Nations (UN) in 2010. The global commitment to safe water for all is further demonstrated through the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 targets to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking-water for all. However, many people cannot yet claim their fundamental right to water, and inequalities to safe water access is felt disproportionately by those who are disadvantaged socially, economically, demographically, or geographically.

Read more on how to engage vulnerable groups in CR WSP in this factsheet.

Training videos on water safety planning are now available. The videos cover an introduction to water safety plan principles and steps, and water safety plan auditing. These videos are recordings from a bilateral training event organized by the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regional Offices, with support from WHO Headquarters. The content has been designed such that the global WSP community can benefit from viewing. For more information and to view the videos, visit the Water safety planning training videos page.