 Natural
Disaster Mitigation in Drinking Water and Sewerage Systems:
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Guidelines for Vulnerability Analysis
Drinking water and sewerage services play a critical role in the development
process as they are essential for the health and well-being of populations.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the impact of natural disasters frequently
results in severe damage to these systems, representing important economic losses
and serious disruptions in the quality of services. Factors such as uncontrolled
urban growth, deteriorating and inadequate infrastructure, and, above all, the
location of these systems in areas that are vulnerable to natural hazards have
resulted in a striking increase in the frequency of disasters and the severity
of damage. This situation presents obstacles for development and hazards to
the health of affected populations.
Prevention and mitigation measures taken before
a disaster strikes can strengthen systems thus avoiding or reducing damage and
human and material losses. The institution of programs that continually update
mitigation and emergency plans also ensures a more responsible and efficient
response in the event of a disaster.
Vulnerability analysis --the topic of this publication --provides a simple
approach for assessing the vulnerability of system components to the impact
of hazards in a particular area. The outcome of the analysis will define the
necessary mitigation measures and emergency response procedures should a disaster
occur.
These guidelines are meant to be used as an analytical tool by engineering
and technical personnel working with drinking water and sewerage services to
diagnose the behavior of these systems in the event of a natural disaster.
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