RISK ASSESSMENT AND HAZARD MANAGEMENT IN WATER TREATMENT: A CASE STUDY OF BHANDUP COMPLEX WATER TREATMENT PLANT, MUMBAI

Abstract

Water treatment facilities in India plays a vital role to public health and safety by providing safe drinking water. But these treatment facilities can be a single point of failure in the event of possible shutting down due to any reason. This research focuses on the assessment of risks conducted through Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) in order to assess the characteristics of potential hazards. Such hazards can be related to chemical, physical, and biological processes taking place within a water treatment plant. The present case study focuses on Bhandup Complex Water Treatment Plant, which is located in Mumbai, and has a treatment capacity of 2810 million liters per day. The study employs field observations, semi-structured interviews, analysis of historical data, and laboratory testing to establish risks at various treatment stages, namely pre-chlorination, filtration, and post-chlorination. A systematic likelihood classification that is coupled with a risk matrix enables an objective, structured assessment of possible hazards, focusing on those hazards that have both high probabilities and significant repercussions. This detailed approach emphsises on the importance of effective risk management strategies which are critical to public health protection and ensuring efficiency in operations.