Water Safety and Security Workshop
Improving coordination among science, policy-making and management/operation actors
12th December 2016, Brussels
JRC and DG HOME co-organised the «Water Safety and Security» workshop at the occasion on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Groundwater Directive.
The workshop aimed at improving the coordination of information exchange between policymakers, scientists and practitioners in the area of water safety and security. Synergies among the safety and security (research and policy) areas were proposed and discussed. This joint initiative gave the opportunity for the ERNCIP “Drinking Water” TG to present proposals for a Water Security Plan for validation by the stakeholders, including inter-alia:
- National Authorities in charge of the “Drinking water” directive (mainly safety aspects);
- Representatives from Security (CIP and CBRN-E perspective);
- Water utility operators and their representative organisations (e.g. EurEau).
The aim of a Water Security plan is to support operators to develop an effective response to a wide range of hazards, typically those considered to have a low probability of occurrence but with a potential high impact (e.g. malicious acts), that could compromise the supply of safe drinking water. The TG experts proposed to develop a guidance document enabling water utility operators to prepare their own water security plan which would complement an already existing Water Safety Plan. Thus, water utilities, sensor manufacturers and national authorities were invited to share their views on the topic.
The Water Security Plan concept was positively received by all stakeholders (including policy makers and other actors of the EU regulatory framework). The key outcomes show that: (i) security being primarily a matter for Member States, the concept of a Water Security Plan as part of Water Safety Plans is validated/recommended; (ii) preference for guidance rather than further legislation emerged from the discussions; (iii) the concept of a demonstration project captured the audience’s interest and various issues related to online monitoring were addressed.
Presentations
Policy Backround
EU Research on Water Safety and Security (Chair: Philippe QUEVAUVILLER)
ERNCIP Thematic Group on Chemical and Biological (CB) Risks to Drinking Water
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Proposals for a guidance related to a Water Security Plan to protect Drinking Water
These proposals were documented into an assessment report, and distributed in advance to the participants of the "Water Safety and Security" Workshop organised jointly by ERNCIP, DG HOME, DG ENV and held on the 11-12th December 2016 in Brussels which aimed to improve coordination among science, policy-making and management/operation actors. The recommendations from the Water TG were presented to workshop attendees, including representatives of the National Authorities and to the CIP stakeholder community, and validated in a dedicated session of the workshop. The feedback from the workshop was incorporated into the final proposals for a guidance related to a Water Security Plan to protect drinking water.