A bottom up approach to evaluate risk assessment tools for drinking water safety in First Nations communities

• Main Author: Levangie, Janice Catherine
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Guelph 2009
• Subjects: small and remote community drinking water; First Nations drinking water; water safety plan; drinking water risk assessment; Indian; First Nations
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10214/2043

Note: this thesis was also submitted in hard-copy to Graduate Services Safe drinking water is a basic need; and risk assessment tools may assist in prioritizing actions to improve water safety. The objective of this research was to determine the appropriateness of current risk assessment approaches for First Nations drinking water systems. Criteria to evaluate risk assessment approaches were developed by combining common elements from literature, key informant interviews, and surveys. The criteria were compared against selected tools for drinking water risk assessment, including tools developed by Australia, Montana, Indian and Northern Affairs, and the University of Guelph. None of the tools, as available, met all of the criteria. Important considerations were found to include the operator, monitoring and recordkeeping, maintenance, technical considerations, emergency response plans, and source water protection. The tools were generally weak in assessing some potential challenges facing small, remote, and First Nations communities; including financial constraints, and taking a holistic view of water.