Overview

Water Quality Assurance Plans (WQAPs) are the preferred method for ensuring water quality in projects involving the provision of drinking water. USAID recommends that new Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs) for drinking water provisioning activities require Implementing Partners (IPs) to develop, implement, and report on a WQAP. The WQAP should specify how the IP will assure safe drinking water for the project and meet applicable partner-country water quality requirements, given project implementation conditions. It is intended to specify requirements for initial testing, long-term monitoring, and, in some cases, exact water standards.

This document provides the instructions, example language and template for Implementing Partners (IPs) to develop high quality WQAPs.

The LAC and Africa Bureau WQAP Guidance Note and Template in the section below are bureau specific. All other documents are considered global.

WQAP Guidance Note and Template

• Water Quality Assurance Plan LAC Template Guidance Note and Template
• Water Quality Assurance Plan Africa Bureau Template Guidance Note
• Example Water Supply Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP)
• Example WQAP: DRAFT ONSE Water Quality Assurance Plan

WQAP Annex Documents

• Mandatory Supplemental Documents (to accompany final WQAP)

  • Annex 1: WQAP Record and Compliance Template
  • Annex 2: Investigation of Potential Sources of Contamination

• Supportive Guidance for WQAP:
  • Annex 3: Approach to Resolution of Water Quality Contamination
  • Annex 4: Standard Text for Description of WHO Guidance for Section II, 3.
  • Annex 5: Suggested IEE Language on Water Quality Monitoring
  • Annex 6: Illustrative Procurement Language on Drinking Water Quality
  • Annex 7: Standard Operating Procedures for Field Measurements and Sample Collection

Additional Resources

• Important USAID guidance and resources for development of WQAPs and water quality programming include:
  • USAID Water Sector Environmental Guideline
  • Water Safety Planning for Small Community Water Supplies (WHO 2012a)