Reverse Linkage

71 DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION organic matter by oxidisability to potassium permanganate and the measurement of iron and manganese by colorimetry. Investigation into the Ziga treatment plant revealed a failure of the pulsing equipment and a deposition of unex- tracted sludge during purging. This resulted in arrangements to update the equipment and for the Moroccan experts to train eight personnel including five water treatment agents and three chemists from the central laboratory. Improvement of water quality monitoring at the distribution system The improvement of water treatment at the processing station is ineffective if the water quality is not maintained until it reaches the customer. The third project phase was therefor designed to monitor water quality on its entire route through the network. A water safety management plan was put in place in pursuance of recommendations made in the World Health Organisation summary of 2011. The work consisted of investigating water quality monitoring prac- tices at ONEA, developing a plan of action, and making the necessary improvements to achieve good practice through- out. This resulted in training the staff in regulations and strategy as well as defining the necessary steps for monitor- ing water quality as part of health and safety management. It was strongly recommended that a team should be estab- lished at the central laboratory, dedicated to: • Monitoring water quality • Progressively implementing an internal/external commu- nication policy on water safety with interested parties • Developing awareness-raising programmes on goodhygiene practice for staff responsible for managing the personnel involved in the key stages of drinking water production. Upgrading the central water quality control laboratory The monitoring and control of water treatment involves the establishment of good practice and the reinforcement of staff capacity and expertise. As an important link in the chain, it was therefore decided that the ONEA central labo- ratory should be upgraded, with the objective of complying with ISO/IEC standard 17025:2005 to establish general proficiency requirements for conducting tests and analyses. ISO/IEC 17025 is a tool, guide, and standard that allows information to be structured and controlled, enabling the laboratory to achieve the level of quality necessary to satisfy its customers and to submit to a set of rules which must be ratified regularly by a professional evaluator. Staff training has taken place to ensure that they are committed to the objectives and respectful of the rules and principles of the ISO standard in order to achieve accreditation in the future. Achievements have so far been made within several phys- icochemical, microbiological and biological parameters and have provided a model for the methods of analyses in these Theory training on the use of the spectroscope, from staff of the National Office of Electricity and Water (ONEE), Morocco Image: ONEA