Water is a fundamental resource for life, public health, economic development, and environmental sustainability. Ensuring the safety of drinking water and the effective management of wastewater are critical responsibilities for water authorities, utilities, and environmental regulators. In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in water and sanitation management—from end-point testing to preventive risk-based approaches, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and adopted by numerous countries.

This comprehensive course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills to develop, implement, and evaluate Water Safety Plans (WSPs) and Wastewater Risk Abatement Plans (WWRAPs) in line with global best practices. The training provides a robust framework for assessing and managing risks from catchment to consumer (in water supply systems) and from source to discharge or reuse (in wastewater systems).

Water Safety Plans (WSPs) are structured, risk-based approaches that identify and mitigate potential threats to drinking water safety across the entire supply chain. WSPs are now a regulatory or voluntary requirement in many countries and have been proven to reduce waterborne disease and improve operational efficiency.

Wastewater Risk Abatement Plans (WWRAPs), on the other hand, provide a framework to assess, manage, and reduce health and environmental risks associated with wastewater generation, treatment, disposal, and reuse. WWRAPs are increasingly critical due to growing urbanization, climate change impacts, and the rise of water reuse and circular economy practices.