1. Conclusions from Sessions 4.2.2, 4.2.4 and 4.2.5 Michael Rouse Past President International Water Association (IWA) World Water Forum, Istanbul 19 May 2009

2. Session 4.2.2 Regulation as a key issue for the water and sanitation sector The session aimed to cover the following: –How regulation can implement government policies –How to make regulation more effective –Consideration of different performance indicators –Role of national and local authorities –Effects of decentralisation on governance

3. Session 4.2.2 There were presentations from France, South Korea, Brazil, Iran and Mexico There was a 15 minute discussion period In setting the scene the chairman pointed out that there is a matrix of regulation with various levels of institution from international down to municipal and various forms of regulation including financial, environmental, and involving user groups

4. Main Conclusions Need for well-defined legal framework The public is demanding greater transparency, so they need to be provided with information in which they have trust Performance indicators have to be meaningful to the public Regulation can take many forms, and there are systems without bodies called regulators Utilities have to have the capacity to respond effectively to regulation – difficult with very small systems

5. Session 4.2.4 Part 1 (Drinking Water Safety Plans) Drinking Water Safety Plans, more commonly called Water Safety Plans (WSP) –Are a means of achieving safe drinking water –Involve a risk assessment from source to mouth –Identify critical controls to manage the risks and improve operational management –Identify improvement requirements Defined by Bonn Charter and World Health Organisation Guidelines

6. Conclusions Participants shared a common objective to up- scale Global WSP implementation, through: Securing multi-lateral and donor support for WSP through policy harmonisation and mainstreaming Stimulating ‘organic’ up-scaling of WSPs through regional networks of expertise and fora Develop a compelling evidence base – not limited to health impacts – for WSP benefits and impact

7. 4.2.4 Part 2: Safe Re-use This session aimed to address the risks to food safety and to agricultural workers from re-use of water for agriculture, particularly untreated wastewater and Consider whether a risk management approach, similar to that adopted for drinking water, should be developed

8. Conclusions Participants identified the following needs to progress widespread safe water re-use: The formal recognition of wastewater as a source for irrigation The development of standards for direct and indirect re-use The development of a framework for the management of wastewater for re-use considering water management, environmental pollution and food safety – A Bonn Charter perhaps and RUWSP?

9. Session 4.2.5. Opening Glass Doors: How can regulation improve openness and transparency? There were two sets of 4 ten-minute presentations followed by discussions Speakers were from Cambodia, South Africa, Mexico, Morocco, Yemen, Korea, Kenya and Algeria

10. Key Messages National regulation needs to work in conjunction with ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground In order to participate the public needs to understand its rights and responsibilities The public needs assistance / training in understanding the issues and in participation There are examples where user groups take responsibility for managing water use Good communication essential

11. Key messages continued Policy makers have to be willing to be open to democracy and to the decentralisation of decision making Value in capturing traditional ‘social adaptive capacity’ in regulatory policies A need to be prepared to manage conflicts