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Safe and efficient management of water supply and sanitation systems

This area of work aims at supporting Protocol Parties and other states in ensuring safe and efficient management of water supply and sanitation services, by strengthening national capacity and scaling up the uptake of risk-based management approaches. In particular, capacity is built on water safety plan (WSP) and sanitation safety plan (SSP) approaches, based on existing guidance and tools.
Following the recognition that sanitation-related matters often receive inadequate political and technical attention in the pan-European region, this programme area had an important focus on sanitation during the triennium of 2017-2019 and will continue to have it in future activities for 2020-2022.
There are also close links with the area of work of increasing resilience to climate change, particularly as regards safe management of water and sanitation services during extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, and safe reuse of wastewater. Activities further substantiate and foster the setting of targets towards ensuring the safe management of water and sanitation services and promote cooperation and exchange of experience.
Linkages to the 2030 Agenda and other international commitments – This programme area aligns with and supports the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals 3, on good health and well-being, and 6 on clean water and sanitation, as well as the Ostrava Declaration on Environment and Health.

Achievements and tools developed in this area
Future work

Under the Protocol's programme of work for 2020-2022, activities carried out in this area will:

  • Further build capacity at national, sub-regional and regional levels on water safety plan (WSP) and sanitation safety plan (SSP) approaches in policy and practice, also considering climate resilient water and sanitation safety planning;
  • Support projects on integrated water and sanitation safety plans, with a focus on small-scale systems;
  • Streghten policy and technical efforts on sanitation by:
 
(a) Developing policy, technical and practical tools on safe and efficient sanitation management;
 
(b) Supporting policy development at country level related to effective regulations, sustainable technical interventions and financial approaches. 
 
  • Focus policy attention on increasing climate resilience, including by preparing for and responding to extreme weather events.
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