Water Safety PlansWater Safety PlansWSP in Schools

Margriet SamwelMargriet Samwel

WECFWECF

Bucharest May 2008Bucharest May 2008www.wecf.euwww.wecf.eu

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Outline:Outline:• Goal of WSPGoal of WSP• Development of WSP by schoolsDevelopment of WSP by schools• Segments of the WSP for small scale water Segments of the WSP for small scale water

supply systemssupply systems• What can children do?What can children do?• Management of the resultsManagement of the results

Water Safety Plans WSP in schools

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Water Directives• Water directives focus on the quality of the end product Water directives focus on the quality of the end product • Poor policies for improvements and managementPoor policies for improvements and management• No or poor involvement of stakeholdersNo or poor involvement of stakeholders

WSPWSP• Focus on the safety of all different stages of the systemFocus on the safety of all different stages of the system• Involvement and motivation of all stakeholdersInvolvement and motivation of all stakeholders• Extensive monitoring- documentation- reporting -informationExtensive monitoring- documentation- reporting -information• Raising awareness and taking actionRaising awareness and taking action

Goal of the WSP:Goal of the WSP:Identification and elimination of all possible risksIdentification and elimination of all possible risks

Difference between WSP and water directives

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• WSP can be developed for small and large scale drinking water systemsWSP can be developed for small and large scale drinking water systems

• WSP can be used as a tool for involvement and mobilisation of WSP can be used as a tool for involvement and mobilisation of communitiescommunities

• The principles of safety plans can be transferred to other systems such as The principles of safety plans can be transferred to other systems such as management of rainwater, wastewater, surface waters or sanitation management of rainwater, wastewater, surface waters or sanitation systemssystems

• The approach of Safety Plans can be developed and implemented on The approach of Safety Plans can be developed and implemented on professional level, but also on school levelprofessional level, but also on school level

Opportunities of WSPs

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Experiences with involvement

of school children

• Children are very interested and motivatedChildren are very interested and motivated• The activities have to fit in the curriculumThe activities have to fit in the curriculum• Children can be the bridge between the Children can be the bridge between the

citizens and the authoritiescitizens and the authorities• Authorities are more open for childrenAuthorities are more open for children

Why focus on schools?

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Development of WSP for small scale suppliesInvolvement of schools

Start:• Public - school meetings, workshops• First test of e.g. nitrates in drinking water• Providing information about the WSP

Reflection:• Identification and selection of the activities and

responsibilities

What are the possibilities and capacities?Who likes what and can do what?

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Organising the programme School + pupils (+ parents-authorities)

Goal of the WSP: Minimising the risks for water pollution and water related diseases.

• How to identify the risksHow to identify the risks• How to communicate with the How to communicate with the authorities• How to monitor and to reportHow to monitor and to report• How to inform the citizensHow to inform the citizens• How to stop water pollutionHow to stop water pollution• How to improve the water supply systemHow to improve the water supply system

• Or how to lobby for a safe central water supply systemOr how to lobby for a safe central water supply system

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WSP meansCooperation - no confrontation

with all stakeholders

Children need steering, therefore support / involvement of local NGO, school staff / teacher is a must

Support / involvement of parents, local authorities, citizens and experts is desired

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Gain understanding of water supply system (observation,using questionnaires, existing maps and data,

involvement experts) Find outFind out• The water catchment areaThe water catchment area

• Potential sources of pollutionPotential sources of pollution

• Type, age and condition of pipes, reservoirsType, age and condition of pipes, reservoirs

• Causes of eventually interruptionsCauses of eventually interruptions

• Water quality and quantityWater quality and quantity

• Water treatment systemWater treatment system

• Appearance of water Appearance of water

related diseasesrelated diseases

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What can children do?What can children do?

Step 1Identification of the water supply system

Identification of stakeholders

Tools: Stakeholder and system analyses Meetings, interviews, internet, drawing and mapping

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What can children do? Find out the stakeholders:Who is doing what? Who is doing what? What are the duties and rights?What are the duties and rights?What are the requirements?What are the requirements?

Regional level: implementation

Authorities for water and sanitation

Health inspection

Laboratory

Water supplier, Firms

Local level: implementation water use: consumption

householdspublic institutionsindustryagriculturelivestock

International and National level:International and National level: Regulation on drinking waterRegulation on drinking water

Ministries, inspections

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What can children do?

2. Test the water quality Nitrate, turbidity, colour, odourTools: e.g. nitrate quick test, observation

or collect information about results of water analyses

evt. request for laboratory tests

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What can children do?What can children do? 3. Test of seasonal fluctuation of nitrate

050

100150200250300350400450500550

05.11.0402.12.0409.01.0506.02.0506.03.0503.04.0529.04.0527.05.0524.06.0522.07.0519.08.0517.09.0515.10.0513.11.0511.12.0508.01.0605.02.06

NO3 (mg/l)

national standard 1 2 3 4 5

Raising awareness onRaising awareness on• Properties of soilProperties of soil• Nitrate pollution Nitrate pollution • Understanding of Understanding of

environmentenvironment

Tools:Tools: Nitrate quick testNitrate quick testThermometerThermometerMeasuring cup for precipitationMeasuring cup for precipitation

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What can children do?What can children do?

- Interviews with key persons, Authorities and citizens (practices - perception)

- Observation of condition of wells/stand taps the area of wells, water extraction etc. Tools: forms, questionnaires,

check lists, graphics, maps

4. Risk - hazard assessment

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Family: Nr. of persons in the household

Adress

Public

tap

Public

well

Which source of water do you use

What is your daily use of water

Which and how many animals drink from the water

What is the distance from home to the water source

Is there always enough water available?

How often per day do you catch water

Do you think the dw quality is good?

If quality is not good , what is the cause?

Do you use bottled water?

Do you treat/boil the dw?

How do you store the dw?

In vessels, bucket, bottels, canister or other

Ist the water reservoir covered?

How do you take water from the reservoir?

Where is the place of storage?

Outside, in the kitchen or others

Do you think you get ill of the dw?

Wishes concerning drinking water

Questionnaires for citizens, health and water authorities

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What can children do?What can children do?

5. Mapping:water quality and sources of pollution

evt. link to the hydrological properties of the area

• Defect reservoirs, pipes or wells etc.• Agricultural or gardening activities• Location of latrines, septic tanks• Location of manure heaps• Infiltration of wastewater• Industrial activities

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What can children do?What can children do?

6. Reporting findings and experiences• Poster presentations for schools, seminar

• Competition with other schools

• Exchange (internet/visit) with other schools

• Presentations for citizens, authorities

• Contribution for papers- media, exhibition

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What to do with the resultsSchools - NGOs?

• Awareness raising on local level - Awareness raising on local level - access to information for access to information for

all: all: Maps, poster, reports, presentation, exhibitionMaps, poster, reports, presentation, exhibition

• Community based development of plans for Community based development of plans for improvement of access to safe water: improvement of access to safe water: making work plan - timetable - budget- business making work plan - timetable - budget- business planplan

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Public well-

windlass

Is - situation

Should be Date and Action of improvement

Monitoring Responsible

General state of well

Cracks in the wall

No cracks, no damages

2008-05-21

Repairing wall; new layer of concrete

By visit xx/month

Xx

Cleanliness

of well

Moss and excrements of birds

No visible dirt’s

2008-06-01

Scrubbing the intern of the well; pumping away the water; des-infection of the well

By visit xx/month

ee

Fence No fence No entrance for animal

2008-05-22

Installation of fence

By visit xx/month

ff

Apron Apron cracked allowing leakages

No leakages

2008-05-23

Repairing the apron

By visit xx/ month

Xx

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PoliciesPolicies

•Presentation of results on all levels Presentation of results on all levels

•Dialog with decision makersDialog with decision makers

•Lobbying for actions and improvementsLobbying for actions and improvements

•Evaluation, monitoring and Evaluation, monitoring and

•adjustments of the WSPadjustments of the WSP

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Obstacles of implementation of WSP Obstacles of implementation of WSP at schoolsat schools

lack of interest or time lack of interest or time or cooperation or coordination or cooperation or coordination

or or activities do not fit in curriculumactivities do not fit in curriculum

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First starts of WSP in schools are startedMaterials prepared (En, Ru, Ro) and provided to schools:

• Introduction of WSPIntroduction of WSP• Several questionnaires Several questionnaires • Guide for nitrate, turbidity or colour testsGuide for nitrate, turbidity or colour tests• Examples for mapping and stakeholder analysesExamples for mapping and stakeholder analyses• Examples for local actionsExamples for local actions

High interest of teachersHigh interest of teachers

Outlook: Availability of an Attractive WSP Toolbox for schools

Thank you!Thank you!

www.wecf.eu