Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Iceland.
Water Sci Technol. 2012;65(2):277-88. doi: 10.2166/wst.2012.801.
The aim of this study was to investigate accumulated experience with water safety plans in one of the first countries to adopt systematic preventive management for drinking-water safety. Water utilities in Iceland have had a legal obligation since 1995 to implement a systematic preventive approach to secure safety of drinking water and protect public health. The water utilities responded by implementing either an adapted HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) model for larger water utilities or a simpler five step model for smaller water utilities. The research was carried out at 16 water utilities that serve about two-thirds of the population of Iceland. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used with the aim of analysing if and what benefits water safety plans bring for water utilities and what is needed for successful implementation and operation of such systems. The results of the study show that numerous benefits and even the process of going through the implementing process were considered to be of advantage and change the attitude of the staff and the utility culture. Some obstacles and shortcomings came to light, such as lack of documentation and lack of regular internal and external audit. There was little communication with the public, although some mentioned that good public relations are important to succeed with water safety plans. Many important elements of success were revealed of which intensive training of staff and participation of staff in the whole process are deemed the most important. It is also important to have simple and well-structured guidelines, and good cooperation with the health authorities.
本研究旨在调查在第一个采用系统预防管理措施确保饮用水安全的国家之一——冰岛，有关水安全计划的累积经验。自 1995 年以来，冰岛的水务公司就有法律义务实施系统的预防措施，以确保饮用水安全和保护公众健康。水务公司的应对措施是，为较大的水务公司实施经改编的 HACCP（危害分析关键控制点）模式，或为较小的水务公司实施更简单的五步骤模式。该研究在为冰岛约三分之二人口提供服务的 16 家水务公司中进行。采用定性和定量方法，旨在分析水安全计划是否为水务公司带来益处，以及成功实施和运营此类系统所需的条件。研究结果表明，许多好处，甚至是实施过程本身，都被认为是有利的，可以改变员工的态度和水务公司的文化。同时也发现了一些障碍和缺点，例如缺乏文件记录以及内部和外部审计的缺乏。与公众的沟通很少，尽管有人提到良好的公共关系对于水安全计划的成功至关重要。研究揭示了许多成功的重要因素，其中员工的强化培训以及员工对整个过程的参与被认为是最重要的因素。拥有简单且结构良好的指导方针以及与卫生当局的良好合作也很重要。
