A risk-based approach is recognised worldwide as the most reliable means for the provision
of safe drinking water. Efficient implementation of the water safety plan (WSP) approach,
recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is facilitated by an auditing
framework. In Hungary, development of WSPs is a legal obligation for water suppliers.
WSPs are subject to a two-stage regulatory audit, a consultative central technical
audit and a formal local audit. In 2019, a survey was conducted in cooperation with
WHO to evaluate audit experiences of over 1,200 WSPs. Recommendations from the central
audit significantly improved coherence and compliance of WSPs, confirming the efficiency
of the dual approach. The use of a WSP template provided by the national authority
further increased consistency and reduced time and work demand of the audit. Both
water suppliers and public health authorities indicated a need for further capacity
building on WSP development and auditing. The main challenge for water suppliers is
the identification and risk assessment of hazards associated with the water source
and distribution within premises. The recast European Union drinking water regulation
is expected to accelerate the uptake of WSP and strengthen linkages to water catchment
management and water safety in buildings.
