Blue and Green Drop Certification

BLUE DROP CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME
Experiences and Lessons Learned
1
Blue Drop Certification Programme
 The Department of Water Affairs implemented the Blue
Drop Certification Programme in September 2008 to
introduce incentive-based regulation of drinking water.
 Blue Drop Certification is an excellence award for
sustainable drinking water quality management.
2
Blue Drop Certification Programme
 Umgeni Water, in partnership with eThekwini
Municipality, received a Blue Drop in the eThekwini area
in 2009 and 2010.
 Umgeni Water also received excellence awards for the
most effective water quality monitoring programme
(2009) and for data credibility and the most presentable
large water works – Durban Heights (2010).
3
Criteria for Blue Drop Status
4
Criteria for Blue Drop Status
Drinking Water Systems that are to be awarded BLUE DROP
certification status are required to comply with 95% of the
weighted criteria:
1. Comprehensive, preventative drinking water quality
management is practiced according to a Water Safety Plan.
Lessons learned:
 Use WHO Manual as a
guide
 Work together with
other stakeholders
 Get management
commitment
 Show implementation
5
Water Safety Plans – C2C
Water Treatment
Distribution
CATCHMENT
TO
CONSUMER
Resource
Catchment
Consumer
Wastewater Treatment
6
Criteria for Blue Drop Status
2. Process Control, Maintenance and Management Skill
 The water treatment works, Process Controllers and Supervisors are
required to be classified and registered;
 The water works must have a site-specific Operator’s Manual to
guide Process Controllers.
Lessons learned:
 Display WW and Process
Controller certificates
7
Process Control, Maintenance & Management Skill
Lessons learned:
 Proof of Maintenance Team and their qualifications
8
Process Control, Maintenance & Management Skill
Lessons learned:
 Index page of O&M Manual and a copy of one procedure
9
Criteria for Blue Drop Status
3. A suitable monitoring programme (in accordance with the
requirements of SANS 241).
Lessons learned:
 Operational monitoring
10
Compliance Monitoring
Lessons learned:
 Full SANS 241 list
 Adequate monitoring coverage
spatially (80%)
 Adequate number of samples
according to population served
 Capture monitoring
programmes onto BDS
11
Compliance Monitoring
12
Criteria for Blue Drop Status
4. The samples are analysed in laboratories which are
ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 accredited or are participating in a
Proficiency Testing Scheme.
13
Proficiency Testing Schemes
Lessons learned:
 External (SABS) and Internal PTS
14
Proof of results used for process control
15
Criteria for Blue Drop Status
5. All results from the monitoring programme must be
submitted to DWAF at a monthly frequency;
6. The results must comply with the requirements of the
latest version of SANS 241 and the water supplied to the
town must be classified as EXCELLENT;
16
Criteria for Blue Drop Status
7. An Incident Management Protocol must exist to guide the
WSAs response to resolution and communication of drinking
water quality failures;
Lessons learned:
 Potable Water Quality Policy
 Incident Management Protocol
 Register and record of actions
taken
17
Incident Management Protocol
18
Incident Register
19
Criteria for Blue Drop Status
8. Performance against the latest version of SANS 241 must be
reported and published at an annual frequency.
20
Criteria for Blue Drop Status
9. Treatment processes and assets must be properly managed.
Lessons learned:
 Annual Process Audit
 Implementation of audit
findings
21
Asset Management
Lessons learned:
 Updated Asset Register
22
Asset Management
Lessons learned:
 Water Works capacity
DURBAN HEIGHTS WW
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Nov-08
Dec-08
Feb-09
Mar-09
Outflow (ML/day)
May-09
Jul-09
Aug-09
Oct-09
Dec-09
Design capacity (ML/day)
(Average Outflow/Design capacity) = 84.7%
23
Asset Management
Lessons learned:
 Maintenance Budgeting and Expenditure
24
In general…
 Get organised and file all documents in folders/
directories;
 Use the BDS and upload all documentation;
 Have proof of implementation;
 Take the right actions for the right reasons!
Thank you
25