Drinking Water Toxicology in Its Regulatory Framework

The research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value of management system standards (MSS) by assisting municipalities in meeting their human health protection, environmental objectives, addressing environmental and property damage risks, and providing an additional mechanism of public accountability and transparency. Semi-structured interviews were applied to assess perceptions with practitioners and environmental non-governmental organizations on whether a similar approach to the legally required drinking water quality management standard (DWQMS) could be applied for the municipal wastewater and stormwater sectors. Twelve Ontario municipalities have adopted or are in the process of adopting an ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) standard for their wastewater and/or stormwater systems, which represents 66% of Ontario’s population. With the large urban centres (e.g., Toronto, York Region, Durham Region, Halton Region and Peel Region) adopting the standard, this is likely to influence small to medium-sized cities to follow a similar approach. Although, resources might be a factor preventing the cohort of smaller utilities voluntarily taking this path. Regulations governing Ontario’s municipal drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utilities were compared via gap analysis. Gaps on management of the system, performance monitoring, auditing and having minimum design criteria left the municipal wastewater and stormwater sectors behind in comparison with recently updated (2004–2008) regulatory framework for the drinking water sector. Based on the identification and review of significant gaps in wastewater and stormwater regulation (compared with the drinking water sector), environmental MSS should be incorporated to strengthen the regulatory framework of these sectors. These phenomena also depict a form of sustainable governance with the use of MSS, which are initiated, developed and regulated by non-state actors, recognizing the value of non-state rule instruments in the water, wastewater and stormwater sectors.

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The most efficient clusters of Brazilian water companies

Water Policy ◽

10.2166/wp.2015.148 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 902-917 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Pedro Carvalho ◽

Isabel Pedro ◽

Rui Cunha Marques

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Parametric Method ◽

Regulatory Framework ◽

Natural Monopoly ◽

Water Utilities ◽

Water Utility ◽

Private Participation ◽

Water And Wastewater ◽

Water Companies ◽

Non Parametric

Usually water utilities provide their services under natural monopoly, with few incentives to become efficient, therefore affecting customers in the form of expensive tariffs. Hence, it is extremely important to find out the sources of inefficiency. The present study aims to identify the most efficient water utility groups in Brazil. For this purpose, a robust non-parametric method was applied. The results show that the utilities that provide both drinking water and wastewater services, the local utilities, and the utilities with private participation are more efficient. Furthermore, this study proved that the utilities were more efficient before the regulatory framework had been implemented.

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Protecting Drinking Water Quality Against Contamination by Pesticides: An Alternative Regulatory Framework

Review of European Community & International Environmental Law ◽

10.1111/j.1467-9388.1995.tb00247.x ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 321-326 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael G. Faure ◽

Jurgen GJ. Lefevere

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Regulatory Framework ◽

Drinking Water Quality

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Habitat Association of Klebsiella Species

Infection Control ◽

10.1017/s0195941700062603 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 52-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 111

Author(s):

Susan T. Bagley

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Surface Waters ◽

Industrial Effluents ◽

Opportunistic Pathogen ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Habitat Association ◽

Klebsiella Species ◽

Almost All ◽

Polluted Waters

AbstractThe genus Klebsiella is seemingly ubiquitous in terms of its habitat associations. Klebsiella is a common opportunistic pathogen for humans and other animals, as well as being resident or transient flora (particularly in the gastrointestinal tract). Other habitats include sewage, drinking water, soils, surface waters, industrial effluents, and vegetation. Until recently, almost all these Klebsiella have been identified as one species, ie, K. pneumoniae. However, phenotypic and genotypic studies have shown that “K. pneumoniae” actually consists of at least four species, all with distinct characteristics and habitats. General habitat associations of Klebsiella species are as follows: K. pneumoniae—humans, animals, sewage, and polluted waters and soils; K. oxytoca—frequent association with most habitats; K. terrigena— unpolluted surface waters and soils, drinking water, and vegetation; K. planticola—sewage, polluted surface waters, soils, and vegetation; and K. ozaenae/K. rhinoscleromatis—infrequently detected (primarily with humans).

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