The Online Drinking Water Safety Planning (WSP) Course 2026, organized from 4 March to 2 April 2026 by GWOPA/UN-Habitat in partnership with IHE Delft Institute for Water Education and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), successfully concluded after four weeks of interactive learning, collaboration, and practical application. With the course attracting more than 700 applications from over 20 countries, it underscored the growing global demand for structured water safety expertise at the utility level.
Delivered through the Global WOPs Community, the online course brought together 53 water and sanitation professionals from utility operators, relevant ministries, national and regional government institutions, academia, and engineering organizations from around the world to strengthen their knowledge and skills in developing and implementing Water Safety Plans (WSPs).
Facilitated by Dr. Akosua Boakye-Ansah, Lecturer and Researcher in Water Services Governance at IHE Delft, together with Mr. Harold van den Berg, Researcher, and Mr. Jerome Lock Wah-Hoon, Scientist in Infectious Diseases and Global Health, both from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, the course combined video lectures, live sessions, quizzes, practical assignments, and peer learning to guide participants through the key steps of water safety planning. Drawing on the facilitators' expertise in water governance, public health, and microbiological risk assessment, participants were exposed to both the technical rigour and real-world complexity required for effective water safety planning.
The course was structured over four weeks of instructor-led learning, introducing participants to approaches for both urban and small-water-supply systems. Each module progressively built towards a practical outcome, placing participants' own utilities at the centre of the learning experience. Through module-based assignments and guided instructor feedback, participants developed practical skills while progressively building their own Water Safety Plans.
“I found this course very valuable and well-structured. The content was practical and directly applicable. The sessions were interactive, and the assignments helped me build confidence in applying these tools in real-world contexts.”
The course concluded with participants developing draft Water Safety Plans tailored to their own utilities and operational contexts, further strengthening capacities for safer and more resilient drinking water services. As water utilities worldwide face mounting challenges from climate variability, ageing infrastructure, and rapid urbanization, programmes such as the 2026 Drinking Water Safety Planning Course provide a scalable model for building the expertise needed to ensure safe drinking water services.
“I am grateful to have participated in the 2026 Online Course on Drinking Water Safety Planning. The course was well-structured and highly engaging. The video presentations provided clear and comprehensive guidance on each module, making the concepts of developing a Water Safety Plan (WSP) easy to understand and apply.”
The 2026 Drinking Water Safety Planning Course is one of many capacity-building opportunities supported by the Boosting Effectiveness of Water Operators' Partnerships (BEWOP) project, funded by the Government of the Netherlands and delivered through the Global WOPs Community. From training courses and knowledge exchange to partnerships among utilities worldwide, the Community strengthens the institutions and professionals delivering water services.
Water professionals interested in developing their skills, expanding their networks, and contributing to more resilient water services are encouraged to join the Global WOPs Community.