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Of Dreamliners and Drinking Water: Developing Risk Regulation and a Safety Culture for Direct Potable Reuse

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Binz

    (Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology)

  • Noosha Bronte Razavian

    (UC Berkeley School of Law)

  • Michael Kiparsky

    (UC Berkeley School of Law
    NSF Engineering Research Center for Re-Inventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt))

Abstract

Direct potable water reuse (DPR), the injection of highly purified wastewater into drinking water systems, is among the newest, and most controversial, methods for augmenting water supplies. DPR is garnering increasing interest, but does not come without risks. This paper examines the notion that emerging regulation of DPR may lack sufficient attention to a particular class of risks: catastrophic risks with low probabilities of occurrence, but high consequences. It may be instructive for proponents of DPR that such consequences have materialized in other industries, with damage to human welfare and to the industries themselves. We develop brief histories of risk regulation from the aviation, offshore oil, and nuclear industries, drawing out relevant lessons for the emerging DPR field. We argue that proponents of DPR could benefit from proactively developing a safety culture in DPR utilities and establishing an effective industry-wide auditing organization that investigates unanticipated system failures. Developing independent oversight for DPR operation could ensure that stringent quality and management requirements are set and enforced, and that any system failures or “near misses” are investigated and adequately responded to.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Binz & Noosha Bronte Razavian & Michael Kiparsky, 2018. "Of Dreamliners and Drinking Water: Developing Risk Regulation and a Safety Culture for Direct Potable Reuse," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 32(2), pages 511-525, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:32:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s11269-017-1824-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-017-1824-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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