Framework for drinking water safety in Saint Lucia: a water safety plan approach

The Water Safety Plan approach set out in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality is based upon scientific consensus, best available evidence and broad expert participation. The approach has been successfully tested in urban areas and building on this knowledge, work is being carried out in rural areas and small islands. This Saint Lucia case-study is part of work conducted in the Caribbean assessing islands for their status in the WHO safe drinking-water framework and how it might lead to improved safety. The Water Safety Plan approach is a holistic analysis assessing all aspects of water safety enabling stakeholders to engage and collaborate with one another potentially resulting in a consensus of opinion based on knowledge and goal-orientated motivation. The time based action plan resulting from the Water Safety Plan approach allows for context specific achievable, incremental and sustainable improvements in drinking-water safety whilst planning for the over-arching goal of a safe drinking-water framework.