Extreme weather events, causing floods, droughts, can have major implications for the performance of water and wastewater infrastructure and services, and the availability of good quality water. Related to sanitation, post-flood areas show a significant occurrence of water-related infectious diseases. Disease outbreaks following heavy precipitation or floods are often the result of contamination of the drinking-water supply systems and living environment. During droughts, drinking water availability and quality can also be affected. Occurance of extreme weather events are increasing and providing adequate services can be challenging.
In response to extreme events, adaptation strategies are being developed and implemented, at policy level, but also by drinking water and sanitation service providers. Water and sanitation safety plans (WSSP), as recommended by the World Health Organization, offer comprehensive risk-based management tools to enhance these efforts focusing on preventive measures and emergency response and preparedness planning.
During the 2017 6-7th April pan-European Symposium Water and Sanitation Safety Planning and Extreme Weather Events, cross-cutting topics will be addressed. Presentations and workshops will be organised with the goal of presenting achievements, experiences and challenges of water and sanitation professionals and regulators, in addressing extreme weather events, with a special focus on cases from the pan-European region. But is not limited to the region alone.