Analys av dricksvattenproducenters faro- och riskidentifiering - förbises alarmerande miljögifter i råvatten?

Sammanfattning: This study examines drinking water producer’s performance of hazard and risk analyses and how they take emerging chemicals into account. The high-profile cases in 2011-2013 with PFOS contaminating drinking water in Kallinge, Botkyrka and Uppsala highlighted the problem of emerging chemicals in sources of drinking water. Through literature study and analysis of performed hazard and risk analyses from four drinking water producers in southern Sweden, this study shows a lack of specificity and quality among analyses. This could be related to the guidance’s from associated authorities which suggests a subjective way of assessment, something that is likely to overlook significant risks such as harmful chemicals. Because water producers are self-responsible for the hazard analysis the guidelines have to put a greater demand to define the potential risk of emerging chemicals in raw water. That drinking water producers have most responsibility of such an important task as ensuring chemical-free drinking water is a particular problem since previous studies have identified lack of expertise among performers, something that is crucial to manage identify emerging chemicals. To solve the problem with exclusion of emerging chemicals the spectrum of chemicals in hazard and risk analyses must include more chronically toxic chemicals. It also requires improved guidance and more explicit demands, but first of all the problems has to be enlightened and prioritized.