To ensure the continuity of regular operations and provide health care facilities, we must devise an Emergency Water Supply Plan (EWSP) to plan for, respond to, and recover after a complete or partial interruption to the water supply to the facility.
Water supply interruption can be caused by various situations, including natural disasters, a breakdown in the community water system, construction, or even a terrorist act. Since water supply systems are susceptible to failure and fail, it is crucial to be aware and take action how the safety of patients, the quality of care, and the operation of your facility will be affected.
Healthcare facilities must be able to react to and recover from interruptions to the water supply to ensure their patients’ safety. A well-constructed EWSP can outline the response and recovery
by giving guidance on evaluating water use and response capabilities and alternatives to water.
The Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide for Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities provide four steps to the creation and implementation of EWSP:
- Form the proper EWSP team and the necessary
- Background documents that you can use for your facility.
- Learn about your water use by conducting a water usage audit.
- Evaluate your emergency options for water supply.
Create and practice your EWSP.
The EWSP procedure for development will differ from one facility to another facility. Only a couple of people could develop a simple EWSP comprised of just two pages for an unassuming facility. It is typically necessary for a large, regional hospital to involve a variety of parties to develop a more elaborate plan. Whatever the size, each healthcare facility needs to develop an effective EWSP to ensure the safety of patients and quality of treatment during an emergency water situation. For more info continue reading!
What is Emergency Water Loss?
“Water loss” is a technical term that refers to all unplanned water that comes into the facility.
The water can get into your building through various methods, including natural disasters and delayed maintenance issues. The most common causes are:
- Broken sprinkler head
- Hurricane
- Pipe failure
- Earthquake
- Clogged gutter
The loss of water can be especially damaging to buildings such as hotels, hospitals, senior living facilities, and much more. Beyond the expense of repairing buildings with water damage, they could pose a risk to infection control and mold issues that must be handled with care.
Having a water loss in an emergency? Here‘s what to do.
The management of an emergency situation involving water loss can be stressful and traumatic. The stress is exacerbated by the necessity to respond swiftly. Building occupants depend on the facility’s operation, and delays leading to the damage worsening, a swift reaction is essential.
Collect the documentation and the EWSP team for the facility
Select the right staff members to make up your facility’s EWSP team, who will be in charge of developing the plan. Then, I put together an email list of team members. Incorporating a range of individuals with different levels of expertise will ensure that the plan is thorough and solid.
Facilities must check with their safety departments to verify compliance with corporate guidelines. Create schematics and drawings of the facility. Remember that hese drawings might not be accurate, and the water supply pipes might not exactly be in the location that the drawings show. Make sure to speak with the facility’s manager to verify their accuracy.
Know your water usage with an audit of water usage.
Conduct a water audit in accordance with the procedures described in the guide. The audit of water usage will assist in identifying emergency conservation measures that can be implemented. This audit finds that conservation strategies can be straightforward and straightforward to implement, leading to lower water usage and lower costs for water usage at the facility.
Identify Essential Functions and Minimum Water Needs
Determine which functions are necessary to ensure patient safety and health and which functions could be altered, temporarily rescinded, or removed should there be a disruption in the
The facility’s water supply, and determine the steps needed to stop or limit the activities temporarily. Facilities functions and the corresponding water requirements can be arranged to be able to handle emergency water situations that range from water service loss ranging from minimal to total loss.
Identify Emergency Water Conservation Measures
After calculating the normal water consumption patterns for all its tasks or services, the organization must decide what water conservation measures could be employed to cut down or eliminate the use of water in each department to meet its minimal water requirements. The facility can then determine the quantity of water that could be saved through implementing specific measures.
Identify Emergency Water Supply Options
In the event of a water interruption, restriction, or emergency efforts to restore or maintain all or a part of the facility’s operation, which includes cooling and heating, will require a new water source of adequate quantity and quality, and the method of introducing this water into areas of the facility that are required.
Develop an Emergency Water Restriction Plan
A water restriction plan could aid in making decisions and the appropriate responses to an outage in the water supply. When faced with a water shortage, the facility’s staff must evaluate the situation swiftly. water supply and determine the level at which it is and how long it functions.
Call Your Insurance Provider.
After stabilizing the situation, you should inform your insurance company about the situation so they can start the coverage process. To file a successful insurance claim, you should keep the following guidelines in your head:
- Contact your insurance company immediately after the water damage is under control. Knowing when you can reach your insurance representative and how to submit an insurance claim is important.
- Take photographs of areas that are damaged and equipment affected, as well as other property.
- Documents such as a moisture map and an independent consultant who can confirm the source and cause of water damage are valuable.
- Make sure to keep any invoices or receipts.
- Find a claims adjuster on site as quickly as possible to record the damage and determine the extent of coverage.
Additionally, remember that what your insurance company will cover sometimes aligns differently from what restoration/remediation contractors may recommend. It’s a good idea to review the scope of work before construction independently. A third-party consultant can independently evaluate their scope with what they believe insurance coverage will provide and what is required to ensure the health and safety of the construction.
