MUSCAT: The Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) has issued new guidelines to regulate the quality of potable water production in the Sultanate of Oman.
The regulation, issued by Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Chairman of the Board of Directors of APSR, aims to protect the health of the general public by putting in place safeguards to secure the quality of water.
Per the regulation, water utilities are required to prepare a water safety plan, which must include operational and administrative controls, a contingency plan, and a comprehensive risk assessment. The water safety plan must also establish standards for the inspection of water samples.
The regulation also prohibits anyone from harming or compromising the integrity of water sources. If any water sources are damaged by a third party, the person responsible must remedy the situation at the earliest and compensate any affected persons for any damage or loss they suffered.
In addition, the regulation requires water utilities to check the quality of water on a monthly basis by taking samples and inspecting them to determine whether they conform to the approved specifications. The water utilities must also provide a monthly report to the APSR that includes the results of the water quality tests.
If water does not conform to the approved specifications, the water utility must determine the source of the substandard water, halt supplies from it, and inform the Authority of the measures taken to protect public health. The water utility must also inform the affected customers and develop a plan to address the lack of water needs if the shortage exceeds more than six hours.
The regulation is a key step in ensuring that everyone has access to clean and safe water.
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