This manual is designed to engage, empower and guide communities in the development and implementation of water safety plans (WSPs) for their drinking-water systems. It provides guidance on how to apply effective and achievable management actions in order to improve the safety and quality of supplied water. Relevant to all community-managed systems, it is applicable to piped schemes, point sources such as hand pumps, protected springs or household rainwater, harvesting systems and other sources. The guidance provided is valid for both new and existing schemes.

The manual is complemented by the World Health Organization s (WHO) Guidelines for drinking-water quality (WHO, 2011a), which describe the principles of the WSP approach, and the Water Safety Plan Manual: Step-by-Step Risk Management for Drinking-Water Suppliers, a practical guide to developing WSPs for larger water supplies managed by a water utility or similar entity. Tools (e.g. sanitary inspection forms) included in Volume 3 of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, entitled Surveillance and Control of Small Community Supplies, will also be a useful resource for small community water supplies throughout the WSP development and implementation process.

This manual will also be useful for those with drinking-water and health-related responsibilities working at a national level to guide the development of policies and programs to improve the management of small community water supplies. Finally, it will also be helpful to members of the small community water supply themselves, as water supply operators and caretakers will be key players in the WSP development and implementation process.