Public HealthPH2GDevelop protocols for dealing with consumer water quality complaints

In Peru, under the Framework Law on the Management and Provision of Sanitation Services and its implementing regulation, Comptrollership Resolution No. 146-2019-CG and Law No. 28716, as well as the General Regulation for Sanitation Service User Claims, various operators, such as Servicio de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado de Ayacucho SA, have approved internal monitoring systems that include protocols on claims reception by phone, with the aim of achieving a speedy management of claims and suggestions in the time frames stipulated by the regulator, and ensuring a quick and timely response to users.

In Panama, Resolution No.: JD-1297 by the Public Utilities Regulator adopted a procedure for responding to complaints submitted regarding public drinking water and sanitary sewerage service provision, with the following main aspects:

1. Clients may present complaints to the Regulator’s office in person, in writing, by phone, mail, fax or any other suitable medium, in relation to public drinking water and sanitary sewerage service provision, when not satisfied by the response offered by the provider.
2. The Regulator shall notify providers of the complaints received, if the providers accept the events described by the claimant if they do not refute them within seven days of receiving the complaint notification, in which case the Regulator shall demand that the provider respond to the submitted complaint.
3. The Regulator may at any time conduct inspections it deems convenient to verify the statements made or events described in the complaint, or those laid out by the provider in its response.
4. Mediation may be ordered at any moment with the aim of having the parties come to an agreement. The agreements arising from the mediation shall be mandatory and the complaints process will conclude. If the parties do not reach an agreement on the events that motivated the complaint, the process shall continue in accordance with the complaints procedure.

In the UK, consumers contact the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) if they have concerns about drinking water quality, or they are not satisfied with how their water supplier has dealt with their concerns.

The DWI has a duty to investigate these matters, and complaints are logged and investigated by an inspector. If consumers contact the DWI with a concern about their tap water quality and they have not contacted their own water supplier, the DWI will refer them to their water supplier.

As the regulator for drinking water quality in England and Wales, the DWI has a duty to investigate consumer complaints about public water supplies, where the water is used for human consumption as defined in drinking water quality regulations.

The following steps are undertaken after receiving complaints:

• The Inspectorate will send an email from the DWI Enquiries mailbox to the supplying water company’s nominated day-to-day contact with the reference number for the complaint, requesting a full report on the company’s communications with the consumer and its investigation into the matter.
• Companies should provide a similarly password-protected report to DWI.Enquiries@defra.gov.uk within 10 working days of the date of the email. The Inspectorate will acknowledge receipt by email.
• Following receipt of the water supplier’s report, the Inspectorate will assess the supplier’s investigation of the consumer’s concern. The role of the Inspectorate is to assess the water supplier’s actions and investigation with regard to the complaint to determine if it has met the requirements of the Regulations.
• If the Inspectorate is satisfied with the supplier’s investigation into the consumer’s concern, the Inspectorate will write to the consumer to explain the outcome of the investigation, and advise the consumer on any further actions they should take to help address their concern (for example, replacement of the private supply pipe). A password-protected PDF copy of the letter will be sent to the supplier’s day to day contact for the company’s records.
• If the Inspectorate concludes that the supplier has not fully complied with the requirements of the Regulations and/or their duties under the Act, the Inspector will write to the board level contact of the supplier, and will make recommendations or initiate further enforcement as deemed necessary, in accordance with the Inspectorate’s published Enforcement Policy. These letters will not normally be copied to the consumer unless the consumer submits a request under the Freedom of Information Act, in which case a redacted version protecting individuals’ identity may be provided.
• If the Inspectorate makes any recommendations or proceeds to further enforcement, the consumer will be informed in the Inspectorate’s final letter to the consumer.