Research Article

Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Health-Related Hazardous Events in the Drinking Water Supply System from Source to Tap in Gaza Strip, Palestine

Table 5

Assessment of hazardous events in the tanker trucks by seven raters.

HazardHazardous eventLikelihood avg (SD)Severity avg (SD)Risk level avg (SD)

MicrobialLow level of disinfection below the recommended limit3.77 (0.80)3.91 (0.85)15.35 (6.01) (very high risk)

Chemical and microbialExcessive algal formations inside the tanker truck tank3.23 (1.07)3.43 (1.06)12.13 (7.27) (high risk)

MicrobialThere is water leakage from the tanker reservoir or its pipes3.79 (0.83)2.85 (0.39)10.98 (3.24) (high risk)

Chemical, physical, and microbialThe tanker truck is unlicensed and nonmonitored by the Ministry of Health3.19 (0.86)2.76 (0.48)8.96 (3.31) (medium risk)

Chemical, physical, and microbialThe drainage tap at the bottom of the tank does not exist2.86 (1.16)2.35 (0.89)7.59 (4.58) (medium risk)

Chemical and microbialDesalinated water is mixed with nondesalinated water2.35 (0.85)2.56 (1.06)6.87 (4.84) (medium risk)

Chemical, physical, and microbialPresence of foreign objects inside of tanker truck tank2.10 (0.87)2.37 (1.08)5.82 (4.43) (low risk)

MicrobialWater discontinuity or stored for an extended period inside the tanker truck tank2.04 (0.85)2.09 (0.95)4.91 (3.97) (low risk)

MicrobialThe parking garage of the tanker truck not sanitary2.24 (1.03)1.84 (0.86)4.87 (4.43) (low risk)

Chemical and microbialThe delivery nozzle, pump, or hoses are dirty or in poor condition2.00 (0.73)2.12 (0.72)4.70 (2.88) (low risk)

Chemical, physical, and microbialThe discharge pipes and hoses touch the ground2.20 (0.91)1.85 (0.82)4.69 (3.74) (low risk)

Chemical, physical, and microbialThe cap of the tanker truck tank is absent or partially opened1.60 (0.83)1.88 (1.14)3.90 (4.47) (low risk)

Chemical, physical, and microbialThe tanker truck engine exhaust and road contaminants affect the water quality1.62 (0.86)1.80 (1.05)3.75 (4.33) (low risk)

Chemical, physical, and microbialThe overflow pipe is unclean or without protective mesh1.68 (0.94)1.67 (0.85)3.47 (3.35) (low risk)

ChemicalThe tanker truck desalinated water storage tank made of corrosive metal1.53 (1.12)1.49 (1.05)3.44 (5.26) (low risk)

Chemical and microbialThe tanker truck tank used to store other liquids other than desalinated water1.56 (0.65)1.31 (0.57)2.31 (2.07) (low risk)

MicrobialThe tanker truck desalinated water storage tank made of opaque plastic1.20 (0.74)1.13 (0.50)1.72 (2.73) (low risk)

ChemicalA high level of overdosing of treatment chemicals (such as chlorine)1.08 (0.26)1.03 (0.17)1.14 (0.55) (low risk)

Risk level = likelihood ∗ Severity.