This document provides guidelines for the management of drinking water utilities and the assessment of drinking water services.

This document is applicable to publicly and privately owned and operated water utilities. It does not favour any particular ownership or operating model.

This document addresses drinking water systems in their entirety and is applicable to systems at any level of development (e.g. on-site systems, distribution networks, treatment facilities).

The following are within the scope of this document:

—     the definition of a language common to different stakeholders;

—     the definition of the components of drinking water supply systems;

—     guidelines for the management of drinking water utilities;

—     guidelines for objectives, service assessment criteria and related performance indicators, appropriate for the assessment of drinking water services.

The following are outside the scope of this document:

—     target values and thresholds for proposed objectives, service assessments criteria and related performance indicators;

—     matters relating to the design and construction of drinking water systems;

—     matters relating to the management structure of drinking water utilities;

—     matters relating to the regulation of drinking water services, including management and operational activities;

—     matters relating to regulating the content of contracts or subcontracts;

—     installations between point of delivery and point of use.