scholarly journals Water quality management for domestic rainwater harvesting systems in Fiji

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Kohlitz ◽  
M. D. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Limited Government ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Harvesting Systems

Health risks from drinking rainwater are relatively small in the developing world context, but action is needed to ensure water safety. Water safety plans (WSPs) use an approach to manage water quality that has shown signs of success with public and communal water supplies, but relatively little research has been done to investigate the application of WSPs to self-supply systems. The aim of this paper is to investigate the primary issues surrounding appropriate water quality management of domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) systems in Fiji and consider how the principles of WSPs can be applied in this context. A qualitative research design was followed, utilising semi-structured interviews with 34 rural households and six key informants, sanitary inspections of DRWH systems and thematic data analysis. A number of challenges, including limited government resources and the limited knowledge and casual attitudes of rural rainwater consumers, constrain the practicality of adopting conventional WSPs at the household level, but steps for improvement can be taken.

Web enablement of a Water Safety Plan via the municipal-based electronic Water Quality Management System (eWQMS)

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 568-577
Author(s):  
P. F. de Souza ◽  
J. E. Burgess ◽  
M. Swart ◽  
V. Naidoo ◽  
A. Blanckenberg
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Management System ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Safety Plan ◽  
Water Safety Plan

Despite a good legislative framework, South Africa faces significant challenges in the sustainable provision of adequate and safe water services. To improve the situation, South Africa's Department of Water Affairs (DWA) and other water sector partners undertook initiatives to assist municipalities with operation and management of water services. By way of example, in 2006, the municipal engineering oriented electronic Water Quality Management System (eWQMS) was implemented, providing municipalities with a platform for loading drinking water quality data and tracking performance of key water services management functions. Following this in 2008, DWA introduced an incentive-based regulatory programme, Blue Drop Certification (BDC), and the associated regulatory drinking water quality information system, the Blue Drop System (BDS) which is, for example, populated with data loaded by municipalities onto eWQMS. An integral part of BDC is the development of Water Safety Plans (WSPs). Due to the challenges faced by municipalities in developing WSPs, the Water Research Commission (WRC) saw a need to assist municipalities, and subsequently a generic Water Safety Plan for Small Community Water Supplies was developed. The WRC also saw the need to develop an easy-to-use WSP tool for municipalities. The eWQMS was selected as the platform for making the tool available. This paper presents the development of a web-enabled WSP tool on the eWQMS which ultimately will provide the information to the BDS.

Water Quality Management – A Total Catchment Management Approach

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Hawkins ◽  
D. A. Geering
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Catchment Management ◽  
Know How ◽  
Wild And Scenic Rivers ◽  
Resource Managers ◽  
Resource Protection ◽  
Development Resource

Water quality standards set in the past have not helped resource managers in the decisions that they face in seeking sustainable development. Resource managers are looking for meaningful information on water quality so as to evaluate the resource, set priorities for action, and to monitor progress. Resource managers need to know how water quality affects, and is affected by, catchment uses and activities. Examples of three wild and scenic rivers, the Nymboida, Murrumbidgee, and Hawkesbury/Nepean River systems, demonstrate how a ‘Total Catchment Management' approach to resource use and resource protection has advantages for water quality management.

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