title: Safe drinking water in regional NSW, Australia.
abstract: The New South Wales (NSW) Public Health Act 2010 requires water suppliers to implement a drinking water quality assurance program that addresses the 'Framework for management of drinking water quality' in the Australian drinking water guidelines. NSW Health has recognised the importance of a staged implementation of this requirement and the need to support regional water utilities. To date, NSW Health has assisted 74 regional utilities to develop and implement their management systems. The Public Health Act 2010 has increased awareness of drinking water risk management, and offers a systematic process to identify and control risks. This has benefited large utilities, smaller suppliers, and remote and Aboriginal communities. Work is continuing to ensure implementation of the process by private suppliers and water carters.
authors.affiliation: Water Unit, Environmental Health Branch, Health Protection NSW, Sydney, Australia, paul.byleveld@doh.health.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Byleveld
authors.affiliation: Water Unit, Environmental Health Branch, Health Protection NSW, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Sandy D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Leask
authors.affiliation: Water Unit, Environmental Health Branch, Health Protection NSW, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jarvis
authors.affiliation: Water Unit, Environmental Health Branch, Health Protection NSW, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Katrina J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.affiliation: Water Unit, Environmental Health Branch, Health Protection NSW, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Wendy N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Water Unit, Environmental Health Branch, Health Protection NSW, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Joshua E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tickell
mesh_terms: D060766:Drinking Water / Q000592:standards*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009517:New South Wales; D011634:Public Health; D011640:Public Policy; D012308:Risk Management; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water