The most effective means of consistently ensuring the safety of a drinking-water supply is through the use of a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach. This approach, called water safety planning (WSP) in the WHO terminology, encompasses all steps in water supply from catchment to consumer. Compared to the “too little, too late” outcome of endpoint monitoring, a risk-based approach offers a preventive, systematic and flexible solution for water suppliers to prevent and detect potential water contamination before it reaches the consumer’s tap.
Approximately 95% of the Hungarian population is connected to centralised public utility water supply, served by 1400 public utilities) Though exact data is unavailable, further 3% is estimated to rely on 516 small private supplies (serving facilities, such as hospitals, hotels, or housing for workforce in industrial sites) and 2% uses single-household private wells.
Water safety planning was introduced to the Hungarian drinking water legislation in 2009 as a regulatory requirement for water supplies serving over 5000 inhabitants. In 2013, the scope was extended to small utilities and currently applies to all community water supplies. WSP is required to include system description, hazard identification, risk assessment, interventions and monitoring points, evaluation and operational measurements for the water source (including source protection), treatment, distribution system, and consumer points.
WSP audit requirement is also addressed by the Hungarian regulation. The official approval process of WSPs covers a dual auditing system. WSP are reviewed by technical experts of the National Public Health Centre (NPHC), who have expertise in water supply technology, drinking water quality, water safety planning, risk assessment, laboratory methods and drinking water regulation. This is a consultative process resulting in an expert opinion. The second part of the process is the official approval by the local public health authorities responsible for regulatory control of the water supplies.
Implementation of water safety planning requirements is assisted by publicly available guidelines developed by the NPHC on WSP development and auditing. Experts of NPHC also contribute to international trainings, workshops and peer-to-peer exchange in cooperation with the WHO Regional Office for Europe to facilitate uptake in the European Region.
More information:
Quality of drinking water in Hungary:
https://www.nnk.gov.hu/index.php/kozegeszsegugyi-laboratoriumi-foosztaly/kornyezetegeszsegugyi-laboratoriumi-osztaly/vizhigienes-laboratorium/ivoviz/ivovizminosegi-jelentesek
https://www.nnk.gov.hu/index.php/kozegeszsegugyi-laboratoriumi-foosztaly/kornyezetegeszsegugyi-laboratoriumi-osztaly/vizhigienes-laboratorium/ivoviz/magyarorszagi-telepulesek-ivovizminosege
Drinking water regulation, including water safety planning requirements:
https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2023-5-20-22
Guidelines of the National Public Health Center on WSP development and auditing
https://www.nnk.gov.hu/index.php/kozegeszsegugyi-laboratoriumi-foosztaly/kornyezetegeszsegugyi-laboratoriumi-osztaly/vizhigienes-laboratorium/ivoviz/ivovizbiztonsagi-tervezes-vbt