Risk analysis and management in the water utility sector - a review of drivers, tools and techniques

The provision of wholesome, affordable and safe drinking water that has the trust ofcustomers is the goal of the international water utility sector. Risk management, interms of protecting the public health from pathogenic and chemical hazards hasdriven and continues to drive developments within the sector. In common with much ofindustry, the water sector is formalizing and making explicit approaches to risk managementand decision-making that have formerly been implicit. Here, we review the risk managementframeworks and risk analysis tools and techniques used within the water sector, consideringtheir application at the strategic, programme and operational levels of decision-making. Ouranalysis extends the application beyond that of public health to issues of financial riskmanagement, reliability and risk-based maintenance and the application of business riskmaturity models.