Development of contingency plan for water utility

Abstract

Water supply is regulated by laws that require water plants to adopt robust risk management practices. Systematic planning, precautionary measures, and effective risk management are crucial for the operational capability of water plants and mitigating potential hazards. Risk management practices involve identifying threats, analysing risks, and planning, implementing, and monitoring risk management activities to maintain the integrity and reliability of water supply systems and ensure community safety. According to the Finnish Water Services Act, water utilities must ensure the availability of water services, even during disruptions. They are expected to cooperate with stakeholders such as emergency services, municipalities, and regulatory authorities. The aforementioned act also mandates that water utilities have an up-to-date contingency plan shared with collaborating partners. The objective of the thesis was to develop a contingency plan for the Piikainkyrön water utility in Orimattila, aligning with the regulatory framework outlined in Finnish legislation. The thesis examined relevant legislation and the needs for contingency planning in Finland. The contingency plan was developed by assessing the current state of the water utility, identifying key functions for risk assessment and management, and preparing operational procedures for incident management and crisis communication. In the literature part of the work, relevant literature was reviewed, and following were discussed: water supply system and contingency planning, the treatment plant in the water supply, and a context analysis of Piikainkyrön Vesisouuskunta.