Planning
The components and management of the water system should be defined and established
when the health facility is planned and constructed. The remodeling or expansion of the physical
plant presents a good opportunity to update and optimize the water system. If problems
with the supply and the water quality for the different services or in critical circumstances
exist, establish an emergency project to improve the water system and its management.
The size of the health facility, its level of specialization, the clinical services it provides,
the installed medical and industrial equipment, and the environmental conditions of the
area where the facility is located determine the amount and characteristics of water
needed. The patterns of consumption and the class of treatment that should be given to
the water before and after its use and prior to its final disposal to the public sewerage system
should be also considered.
When planning a facility, evaluate the availability and options for water supply. Water is
obtained from a public or municipal supply system, a private supplier, or a facility owned
well. The first two options are most common in urban centers. The water is usually available
24 hours per day and has adequate levels of pressure and potability, making it suitable for
immediate distribution and consumption within the facility. The third option is more common
in rural areas or in remote regions without access to a public or municipal water supply
system. In these cases, the implemented water supply system must guarantee the continuous
availability of potable water at a pressure required for the operation of the facility.
Once the water supply source is defined, determine the chemical, physical, and biological
characteristics of the water at the facility entry point. Depending on the values
obtained by laboratory tests, and considering the foreseen uses by the different clinical
and support areas of the facility, the water must be treated and conditioned to fit specific
needs and demands. This is especially important in countries that do not have regulatory
agencies or the capacity to monitor and control the water system.