ISO 24518-2015 PDF

Full title and description

Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services — Crisis management of water utilities. This international standard gives guidance for preparing, responding to and recovering from crises that affect drinking-water supply and wastewater services, with the aim of protecting public health, the environment and continuity of service.

Abstract

ISO 24518:2015 provides general guidance to water utilities of all sizes for developing and implementing a crisis management system based on the Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) approach. It covers preparedness, operational response, coordination with authorities and stakeholders, protection of public health and the environment, communication with the public, and steps for recovery and learning after a crisis.

General information

• Status: Published (confirmed).
• Publication date: August 2015 (Edition 1).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 03.080.30; 13.060.01.
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2015).
• Number of pages: 22 pages.

Key bibliographic and status details above are taken from the ISO record for ISO 24518:2015 (standard entry and related ISO communications).

Scope

Applies to public and private water utilities (all sizes) that seek to prepare for, respond to and recover from crises affecting drinking-water supply and wastewater services. The standard focuses on organizational and management arrangements (crisis management system), cooperation with relevant authorities and stakeholders, actions to maintain or rapidly restore safe water supply and wastewater collection/treatment, public communication to mitigate panic, and consideration of public health and environmental protection during and after emergencies.

Key topics and requirements

• Establishing a crisis management system using the Plan–Do–Check–Act cycle (policy, planning, implementation, monitoring, corrective action).
• Risk identification and preparedness planning tailored to local hazards and utility assets.
• Operational response procedures for ensuring drinking-water quantity and quality, and safe removal/treatment of wastewater.
• Coordination and information-sharing with national/regional/local authorities, emergency services and other utilities.
• Public communication strategies to provide timely, clear guidance and reduce panic.
• Health- and environment-focused measures to prevent contamination, disease outbreaks and secondary impacts.
• Recovery planning, restoration of normal services and post-crisis review and learning.

Typical use and users

Primary users are drinking-water and wastewater utilities (public and private), utility emergency/crisis teams, regulators and public-health authorities, municipal emergency planners, consultants and NGOs involved in water services and disaster response. The standard is used for developing crisis plans, staff training, inter-agency coordination protocols, and as a reference when drafting national policy or regulatory guidance on water-sector resilience.

Related standards

ISO 24518 sits within the ISO/TC 224 family of standards on drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services. Closely related documents include guidance and management standards in the ISO 24510–24512/24511 series (service assessment and management), ISO 24516 asset-management parts, ISO/TS 24520 (technical good practice for crisis management) and ISO/TS 24519 (water/wastewater services for temporary settlements). Users typically consult those documents together to cover management, technical response, asset resilience and service assessment.

Keywords

crisis management; water utilities; drinking water; wastewater; emergency preparedness; continuity of service; resilience; Plan-Do-Check-Act; public communication; recovery; public health; environment.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 24518:2015 is an international standard that provides guidance for crisis management specific to water utilities responsible for drinking-water supply and wastewater services.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers organizational arrangements and processes for preparedness, response, recovery and review—including risk assessment, operational procedures to maintain/restore services, coordination with authorities, health and environmental protection, and public communication.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Water utility managers and crisis teams, regulators, municipal emergency planners, public-health authorities, consultants and humanitarian or development agencies working on water services and disaster response.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The edition is ISO 24518:2015 (Edition 1). The ISO record indicates the publication was reviewed and the version was confirmed in a later review cycle; users should check with ISO or their national standards body for the latest confirmation or revision status before assuming changes.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ISO/TC 224 family addressing activities for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services and is typically used alongside related ISO 2451x and ISO/TS documents covering service assessment, management, asset management and technical good practice.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Crisis management, water utility resilience, emergency preparedness, drinking water safety, wastewater management, PDCA, recovery, public communication.