WHO has introduced Water Safety Plan (WSP) in the 3rd Edition of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality to provide a systematic approach for improving and maintaining drinking water safety. This workbook is intended to be used for training within the Region emphasizing a systematic and preventive risk-based approach to avoid drinking water contamination towards prevention of waterborne diseases. The strategy is to use multiple barriers so that if one barrier fails, the water stays safe. The intended users are possibly water supply practitioners at all levels especially water quality managers, operators, regulators, assessors, academics, consultants, NGOs, and international organizations.

The objective of this workbook is to serve as a guide to facilitate WSP development for an organized water supply that is managed by a water utility or similar entity. WSPs can be tailored differently for each specific water supply system. Trainers in each country could develop their own WSP training material which would be linked directly to country drinking water standards and implementing guidelines as well as being written in other appropriate languages.

The workbook begins with an introductory section designed to orient the user and facilitate the process of starting a WSP. The document addresses each WSP step and provides the following information: (a) what each step involves; (b) an explanation of each step including examples; and (c) examples of exercise sheets (Annex A) that can be used to complete the WSP.A set of pro forma worksheets are given in Appendix A which will provide a first draft of a WSP. A sample WSP is also provided in Appendix B based on an actual WSP case study developed and implemented in the region. The draft Water Safety Plan should be revised accordingly as more information and experience is gained during its implementation.

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