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Making waves: how do we prepare for the next drinking water disaster?
Citation
Curnin, S and Brooks, B, Making waves: how do we prepare for the next drinking water disaster?, Water Research, 185 Article 116277. ISSN 0043-1354 (2020) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2020 Elsevier
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.watres.2020.116277
Abstract
There is a societal expectation that drinking water owners and operators will successfully manage drinking water quality incidents, so they do not become a disaster. However, human errors have contributed
to causing and worsening drinking water quality incidents worldwide. Personnel tasked with managing
drinking water quality incidents need to be prepared. This preparation often occurs in exercises that simulate how a team would respond to a drinking water quality incident. It is our opinion that exercises
simulating drinking water quality incidents must shift from a design that is primarily to simulate an intervention, to one that promotes conditions for learning and enhances the human-centric capabilities of
those involved. Traditional exercises invariably seek to test the response to a water quality incident and
the actions of those involved, often for regulatory purposes. This approach is necessary but can also provide a negative experience for the exercise participants as their actions are frequently scrutinised after
the exercise. We offer a strategy to complement traditional approaches to drinking water quality exercises. Central to this is the inclusion of structured training sessions that provide guidance and support
throughout an exercise. This can foster a strong learning environment than exercises or training sessions
alone. The benefit to water owners and operators is enhanced preparedness and potential mitigation of
future drinking water quality disasters
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | disasters, human capability, human factors, water quality |
| Research Division: | Human Society |
| Research Group: | Policy and administration |
| Research Field: | Public administration |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in human society |
| UTAS Author: | Curnin, S (Dr Steven Curnin) |
| UTAS Author: | Brooks, B (Associate Professor Benjamin Brooks) |
| ID Code: | 140404 |
| Year Published: | 2020 |
| Deposited By: | Office of the School of Social Sciences |
| Deposited On: | 2020-08-13 |
| Last Modified: | 2021-02-17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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