Evaluating the use and intent of drinking water advisories in Atlantic Canada
Autor: | Kaycie Lane, Graham A. Gagnon |
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Rok vydání: | 2020 |
Předmět: |
Geography
Planning and Development 0207 environmental engineering Environmental science 02 engineering and technology 010501 environmental sciences Management Monitoring Policy and Law 020701 environmental engineering 01 natural sciences 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Water Science and Technology |
Zdroj: | Water Policy. 22:908-924 |
ISSN: | 1996-9759 1366-7017 |
Popis: | Drinking water advisories (DWAs) are used as a tool for identifying water safety concerns in many jurisdictions. Evidence from previous research demonstrates a lack of improvement in water system operations over time, with an increase in the total number of DWAs in place. DWAs are predominantly issued due to operational concerns within a water system, implying a lack of proactive management measures for preventable issues. Therefore, DWAs represent a chronic issue for many water systems, particularly those lacking resources to implement operational improvements. This study explores DWA characteristics in Atlantic Canada, including frequency and duration, focusing on municipal and private water systems. Seasonality was identified as a trend in DWA issuance in Nova Scotia, and reasons for DWA issuance are largely unchanged over time. Neither of these identified concerns has led to a change in DWA reporting or issuance procedures. Additionally, this study identifies a lack of a common reporting format, leading to the proposal of a template of minimum characteristics for future DWA reporting. Overall, this study highlights deficiencies in the DWA issuance process as a water safety measure and suggests alternative methods for risk management in water systems to alleviate the persistence and prevalence of DWAs in Canada. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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