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Research Feature: Small Systems

Headwater-to-consumer drinking water security assessment framework and associated indicators for small communities in
high-income countries

Key messages

• Holistic framework needed: The study emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive framework for assessing drinking water security that considers the entire water supply system, from watershed management to consumer delivery, tailored specifically for small and rural, remote communities.
  
  
• Community engagement is crucial: Effective drinking water solutions must include community needs and values, promoting active participation from residents to ensure that water systems are culturally appropriate and sustainable.
  
  
• Indicator-based decision-making: The proposed indicator-based framework can help prioritize investments and actions, enabling better decision-making for water treatment and governance, ultimately improving water security in marginalized communities.

Summary

Small and rural, remote, and marginalized (RRM) communities in Canada face severe challenges to drinking water security, driven by limited resources, water quality variability, and difficulties in maintaining trained personnel and adequate treatment infrastructure. The research conducted proposes an indicator-based framework tailored for these communities to assess and improve drinking water security, from the watershed to the consumer.

It focuses on four key areas:

1. Watershed security
2. Source water quality
3. Community engagement
4. Treatment and distribution systems.

By using specific indicators within each area, this framework guides decision-makers in identifying vulnerabilities and prioritizing actions, investments, and resources for greater resilience.

The research’s framework emphasizes upstream watershed security as foundational, recommending protective measures such as preserving natural vegetation and engaging in

watershed-based planning to reduce contamination risks. For source water security, the framework highlights the need for flexible, climate-adaptive infrastructure to respond to changes in water availability and quality. In addressing community needs, the framework encourages regular consultation to align water treatment strategies with cultural and social values, which can increase community buy-in and ensure that water solutions are both functional and culturally relevant.

On treatment and distribution infrastructure, the research calls for sustainable, cost-effective technologies that align with local resource availability, while also emphasizing the need to shift from a cost-focused approach to one that prioritizes public health and environmental sustainability. The framework encourages community-specific weighting and adaptation of indicators to ensure applicability and resilience. Additionally, it recommends that communities incorporate broader socio-cultural and environmental factors into infrastructure planning to address current and future needs effectively. This framework provides a strategic tool for Canadian RRM communities to proactively improve drinking water security while aligning with their unique needs and values.

Publication

Nath BD, Schuster-Wallace CJ, Dickson-Anderson SE, 2022. Headwater-to-consumer Drinking Water Security Assessment Framework and Associated Indicators for Small Communities in High-income Countries. Water Resources Management, 36:805–834.