AWWA WQTC62540

This paper summarizes findings from AwwaRF Project 2856 funded jointly by AwwaRF and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The purpose of this project was to evaluate the application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) in the drinking water industry to protect and maintain distribution system water quality. A tailored HACCP system was developed specifically for water distribution systems, primarily based on water industry experiences in Australia applying HACCP to individual water systems. The tailored HACCP system was pilot tested by four participating utilities. In addition, five HACCP-certified utilities in Australia provided case study information on their experiences in implementing HACCP. The participating utilities used six categories of evaluation criteria to assess HACCP implementation during the project pilot studies and the longer term, case studies of full-scale HACCP implementation. These categories include: customer satisfaction, has HACCP implementation resulted in reduced customer inquiries or complaints about water quality received by the utility; regulatory compliance: has HACCP implementation resulted in improved water quality compliance for the utility; risk management, has HACCP implementation resulted in strengthened mechanisms for water quality risk management at the utility; system management, has HACCP implementation resulted in improved system management and control at the utility; human factors, has HACCP implementation improved the human relationships and understanding within the utility; and, costs and benefits, has HACCP implementation resulted in benefits that outweigh the costs to the utility? The project's final report, due to be published in early 2006, provides background information on HACCP and its current applications in regulatory guidelines and utility HACCP plans. The report summarizes project findings from utility case studies and pilot studies, and provides detailed guidelines for implementing the tailored HACCP plan for distribution systems. The report also includes example workshop training materials and sample HACCP Plans. Includes reference.