Existing Solutions

Standardization, water services, quality criteria, governance

technical

The international technical committee ISO/TC224 “Service activities relating to drinking water and wastewater” was created in 2002, to establish a framework for a sustainable development approach in water and wastewater services. This creation was supported by 52 countries and 8 international organisations.

This committee published in 2007 3 standards considered as globally relevant, in term of geographic and size structures:

-ISO 24510:2007 « Guidelines for the assessment and for the improvement of the service to users »

-ISO 24511:2007 « Guidelines for the management of wastewater utilities and for the assessment of wastewater services »

-ISO 24512:2007 « Guidelines for the management of drinking water utilities and for the assessment of drinking water services »

Objectives of these standards are:

-to improve the dialogue among stakeholders enabling them to develop a mutual understanding of the functions and tasks

-to establish objectives locally adapted, complying with the regulation set by the relevant authorities

-to set up methods and tools for assessing the quality of the services provided initiate processes for improving the performances of services

-Both developed and developing water services can use these standards around the world

-Argentina starts to experiment these standards in America Latina, using the indicators given in example.

- These projects of standards were initiated by French experts and sent to the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) to establish an international committee, with french Chairman and secretary (ISO/TC224).

- stakeholders : NGOs, both public and private water sector, association, standardization organisms.

- a specific working group has been created, to study how these standards are used since the publication (see attached file)

-The 3 published standards are tested via a new working group in the committee. Argentina ensures the secretary and convenorship of this group. Argentina sent a survey to all the buyers and users of the standards, to know if it permits to improve the governance and management of water services.

-Developing services are involved in this work, with the help of pS-EAU.

-The aim is to produce a document with relevant experiences feedback on the 3 standards use and application.

-New working groups are also working to prepare international standards on “Crisis management”, and “Asset management” in water services.

Even if water and wastewater services exist, management of these services is not always effective. With a better management, quality of services will increase. The aim of these standards is to help for improvment of water and wastewater services management

Standards’ implementation is still studied.

The standards provid their own indicators (as examples) to help operators knowing if their water services management is effective.

Each operator in every country can use these standards, based on a volunteer application.

Each country can also choose to use these standards, in its national version, for certification.

-These standards are globally relevant.

-There is a need for practical application, by testing the standards, and producing an application guide, or examples (see attached form).

These standards are used mostly in developing water services, but can be used in every water services.

Melanie PINATTON Project manager in standardization AFNOR (french association for standardization) 11 rue Francis de Pressensé 93571 SAINT DENIS LA PLAINE CEDEX

Tel. : +33 (0)1 41 62 80 19 – Fax. : +33 (0)1 49 17 90 00 mailto: melanie.pinatton@afnor.org