Headwater-to-consumer Drinking Water Security Assessment Framework and Associated Indicators for Small Communities in High-income Countries

• Published in: Water resources management Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 805 - 834
• Main Authors: Nath, B. Deb, Schuster-Wallace, C. J., Dickson-Anderson, S. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Atmospheric Sciences; Civil Engineering; Decision making; Dimensions; Drinking water; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environment; Frameworks; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Governance; Headwaters; Hydrogeology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Income; Indicators; Performance indices; Security; Sustainability; Training; Water quality; Water security; Water supply; Watersheds; Local water security; Rural remote or otherwise marginalized (RRM) communities; Drinking water security framework; Small systems; Assessment indicators and indices
• ISSN: 0920-4741; 1573-1650
• DOI: 10.1007/s11269-021-02985-2

Drinking water insecurity in small and rural, remote, or otherwise marginalized communities in Canada is pervasive and complex with multiple dimensions and impacts. These communities face challenges such as variable source water quality, lack of resources, inappropriate treatment technologies, lack of access to training, difficulties retaining qualified personnel, and ineffective governance structures. Currently, there is a gap in the academic literature with respect to drinking water security assessment frameworks or tools for small and rural, remote, or otherwise marginalized communities, particularly in high income countries. Thus, the objective of this study is to introduce a framework for assessing drinking water security, from headwater to consumer, in the context of small and rural, remote, or otherwise marginalized communities. An indicator-based framework has been developed to evaluate drinking water security, prioritize actions and investments, and support decision-making. The framework builds on expert knowledge and a critical review of security, sustainability, and performance indices of water supply and treatment processes obtained from the literature. The framework is organised into four dimensions of drinking water security from headwaters to consumer: upstream watershed security; source water security; community needs and engagement; and treatment and distribution infrastructure. A list of relevant indicators for each dimension has been compiled to support framework application in a format that is accessible to decision-makers in small and rural, remote, or otherwise marginalized communities.