Abstract

PEREZ-VIDAL, Andrea; AMEZQUITA-MARROQUIN, Claudia Patricia  and  TORRES-LOZADA, Patricia. Hazard Identification and Prioritization as Tools of Risk Management in Drinking-Water Distribution Systems. Ing. Univ. [online]. 2012, vol.16, n.2, pp.449-469. ISSN 0123-2126.

We conducted the hazard identification and prioritization of the drinking-water distribution system (DWDS) of Cali city (Colombia) supplied by Cauca River. We did this by integrating the principles of Water Safety Plans (WSP), the concepts of Delphi methodology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Statistical analysis of data showed that the quality of drinking-water complied with national regulations, classifying it as "no risk to health" according to IRCA Index. Under normal operation of the DWDS, three maps were constructed using GIS; the first corresponding to physical and hydraulic integrity, the second to the water-quality integrity and the third to the final risk map; the data were concentrated between 5 and 18%, indicating a medium-low risk level, resulting in greater vulnerability to loss of DWDS integrity in the communes located in the center of final risk map. The integration of the consensus views of WSP team and the GIS was a useful tool in the prioritization of hazards and risk management in the DWDS. It is essential to have a qualified multidisciplinary team with reliable and enough information that allow an adequate data spatial interpolation.

Keywords : Drinking water; drinking water distribution system; geographic information systems GIS; hazard identification; risk management; water quality; water safety plan.

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