A Systems Approach to Identifying Hazards in the Management of Vegetative Buffers for the Protection of Drinking Water Quality

Abstract

Using ecosystem services provided by stream buffers has the potential to complement conventional engineering solutions, such as water treatment, and reduce public health risks to consumers. These buffers interrupt the movement of contaminants and sediments from non-point sources such as agricultural land to surface waters. This study uses System Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) and Early Warning Signal Analysis based on STPA (EWaSAP) methodologies to systematically examine the sociotechnical structures involved in managing vegetated buffers in surface water catchments using a theoretical scenario representative of typical surface water supplies.

Keywords

• drinking water
• catchment management
• System Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA)