Circular No. 08/2012/TT-BXD on guiding the implementation to ensure safe water supply

 

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Ensuring Safe Water Supply

Pursuant to Decree No. 17/2008/NĐ-CP dated February 4, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Construction;

Pursuant to Decree No. 117/2007/NĐ-CP dated July 11, 2007 of the Government on the production, supply, and consumption of clean water; and Decree No. 124/2011/NĐ-CP dated December 28, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 117/2007/NĐ-CP dated July 11, 2007 of the Government on the production, supply, and consumption of clean water;

At the proposal of the Director of the Technical Infrastructure Department;

The Minister of Construction hereby promulgates this Circular guiding the implementation of ensuring safe water supply.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular guides the implementation of ensuring safe water supply in the field of producing and supplying clean water through a complete centralized water supply system in urban areas and industrial zones.

2. This Circular applies to organizations and individuals, both domestic and foreign, engaged in activities related to the production, supply, and consumption of clean water within the territory of Vietnam.

Article 2. Explanation of terms

1. Safe water supply means providing stable water supply, maintaining sufficient pressure, continuously, with adequate quantity, and ensuring water quality according to prescribed standards.

2. Ensuring safe water supply involves activities aimed at reducing, eliminating, and preventing risks that may cause unsafe water supply from the source through stages of water collection, treatment, storage, and distribution to end-users.

3. A safe water supply plan includes specific contents for implementing the assurance of safe water supply.

Article 3. Requirements for Ensuring Safe Water Supply

1. Ensuring maintenance of water supply pressure, stable supply, adequate quantity, and ensuring water quality according to prescribed standards.

2. Having measures to deal with abnormal incidents and risks that may occur throughout the entire process of producing and supplying clean water from the source to end-users.

3. Contributing to protecting public health, reducing water-related diseases, preventing epidemics, and promoting economic and social development.

4. Contributing to reducing water loss rates, conserving water resources, and protecting the environment.

Article 4. Contents of a Safe Water Supply Plan

1. Assessing the current status of water supply system operations including:

a) Water sources, supply range, locations for collection, treatment, storage, transportation, and distribution of water;

b) Process flow diagram of the water supply system technology;

c) Basic information about water users.

2. Identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the degree of risks to the water supply system including:

a) Risks from water sources and watersheds;

b) Chemical, physical, and biological risks according to the water supply system technology process;

c) Risks affecting continuous water supply, flow rate, and pressure in the network to end-users;

d) Determining the priority order of risks to propose control and prevention measures.

3. Determining control, prevention, and risk mitigation measures and developing plans for their implementation including:

a) Reviewing existing control, prevention, and mitigation measures;

b) Proposing additional control, prevention, and mitigation measures;

c) Developing plans for implementing control, prevention, and risk mitigation measures.

4. Developing plans for inspecting and evaluating the implementation of control, prevention, and risk mitigation measures.

5. Developing procedures for responding to changes occurring under operational conditions with incidents, loss of control, and emergency situations including:

a) Detecting and reporting incidents;

b) Ensuring timely, continuous, and appropriate communication;

c) Determining the causes of incidents;

d) Determining necessary actions to respond to incidents;

đ) Implementing response actions;

e) Handling incidents, restoring, and stabilizing water quality, pressure, flow rate, and continuity according to applicable technical standards and contractual service water supply provisions;

f) Determining immediate and long-term consequences;

g) Reporting and explaining;

h) Storing information and data on incidents and mitigation measures;

i) Conducting a comprehensive assessment of incidents and proposing preventive and handling measures for potential future incidents.

6. Establishing criteria, monitoring indicators, and control limits to evaluate the implementation of the safe water supply plan including:

a) Water quality for drinking, daily use, and other purposes;

b) Service quality standards and regulations for water supply;

c) Quality management requirements according to ISO 9000 system.

7. Managing relevant databases on safe water supply:

a) Compiling a list of documents and information related to safe water supply work;

b) Establishing a document control system and procedures;

c) Setting up a file management system and supporting record retention;

d) Developing periodic review plans for documents and making necessary revisions;

đ) Retaining records, managing documents to conduct independent evaluations or provide timely information when incidents occur in the water supply system;

e) Establishing mechanisms for promptly receiving and processing customer or community complaints.

8. Developing support programs and implementation plans including:

a) Preventive maintenance programs to enhance the efficiency of the water supply system, extend the service life of facilities and equipment, prevent and reduce risks and incidents;

b) Independent evaluation programs to check the implementation of the safe water supply plan;

c) Training and education programs to improve awareness and skills of staff involved in safe water supply;

d) Public education programs to raise community awareness about water conservation and safe use.

9. Developing plans to assess the results of safe water supply implementation; proposing adjustments to the safe water supply plan for the next phase.

Article 5. Funding for the implementation of the safe water supply plan

The funding for the implementation of the safe water supply plan shall be established by the water supply unit and included in the general production costs in the reviewed and approved clean water consumption price according to regulations.

Article 6. Provincial Safe Water Supply Steering Committee

2. Tasks of the Provincial Safe Water Supply Steering Committee

a) Directing, coordinating, guiding, supervising, inspecting, summarizing, and evaluating the results of implementing the safe water supply plan that has been approved by the competent authority;

b) Taking the lead and cooperating with related agencies in protecting and preventing risks of water pollution in the water source protection area. Directing the timely remediation and handling of incidents and violations causing water pollution at the water intake location of the water supply works and within the water supply system;

c) Mobilizing domestic and foreign resources to support the implementation of tasks, programs, and projects in the safe water supply plan;

d) Establishing the annual operating budget of the Steering Committee and submitting it to the provincial People's Committee for approval;

e) Directing the dissemination and education to raise community awareness about protecting water sources and using water efficiently and safely.

3. The permanent agency of the Steering Committee is the Department of Construction. Members of the Steering Committee work on a part-time basis and utilize their own agency's administrative machinery to carry out tasks assigned by the Steering Committee Chair.

4. The operating budget of the Steering Committee is funded from the local annual budget.

Article 7. Responsibilities of Organizations and Individuals in Formulating, Approving, and Implementing the Safe Water Supply Plan

1. Responsibilities of the Provincial People's Committee:

a) Deciding on the establishment and promulgation of the operational regulations of the Provincial Safe Water Supply Steering Committee;

b) Approving the plan and implementation schedule for the safe water supply plan within its authority;

d) Approving and allocating the operating budget of the Provincial Safe Water Supply Steering Committee;

e) Issuing preferential policies, incentives, and rewards for organizations and individuals who effectively implement and maintain the safe water supply plan.

The District and Commune People's Committees are responsible for coordinating the implementation of the safe water supply plan according to the tasks assigned by the provincial People's Committee and organizing supervision of the implementation of the safe water supply plan in their respective jurisdictions.

3. Responsibilities of the Department of Construction

a) Carrying out the permanent duties of the Provincial Safe Water Supply Steering Committee;

b) Reviewing and submitting the safe water supply implementation plan to the provincial People's Committee for approval;

c) Inspecting, evaluating, compiling, and reporting annually and ad hoc on the implementation of the safe water supply plan to the provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Construction.

4. Responsibilities of Water Supply Units

a) Preparing the safe water supply plan for the water supply system under their management according to the provisions set forth in Article 4 of this Circular and submitting it to the competent authority for approval;

b) Organizing the implementation of the safe water supply plan according to the approved schedule and tasks;

c) Cooperating with related agencies to assess impacts on water quality, proposing management measures for pollution sources to protect and maintain water quality, recommending competent authorities to handle cases of water pollution, and promptly informing the public through mass media about water quality conditions;

d) Determining boundaries, installing warning signs, organizing the protection of the water intake area and the water supply system; promptly detecting and preventing, and recommending competent authorities to handle acts of infringement and threats to the safety of water supply activities in their jurisdiction;

đ) Resolving and handling incidents, restoring and providing stable service to customers after incidents within the production and supply water system under their management;

e) Proposing the selection of long-term exploitable water sources, reserves, and appropriate treatment technologies at each stage to ensure the provision of water services of quality and efficiency;

f) Establishing a safe water supply department within the unit to develop and implement the safe water supply plan. The staff of the safe water supply department must have experience in professional and operational management of the water supply system;

g) Participating in propaganda and mobilization, raising public awareness about protecting water sources, using clean water efficiently and safely. Cooperating with schools to organize extracurricular training sessions to introduce students and trainees the significance and importance of clean water and environmental protection issues;

h) Reporting regularly on the implementation of the safe water supply plan to the Provincial Safe Water Supply Steering Committee and the Department of Construction.

5. Responsibilities of Related Organizations and Individuals

Complying with laws regarding the production, supply, and consumption of clean water. At the same time, identifying, preventing, and recommending competent authorities to handle violations to ensure the implementation of the safe water supply plan.

People's Committees at all levels and specialized agencies shall organize regular and spot inspections to check the implementation of regulations on ensuring safe water supply within their jurisdiction according to the laws on inspection and supervision based on their functions, tasks, and authorities.

Article 9. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from January 4, 2013, and replaces the Regulation on Ensuring Safe Water Supply issued together with Decision No. 16/2008/QĐ-BXD dated December 31, 2008, of the Minister of Construction.

2. The Minister, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, Agencies under the Government, Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

3. In case of difficulties during implementation, organizations and individuals are requested to promptly report to the Ministry of Construction for consideration and resolution./.