CHALLENGES OF MUNICIPAL HYGIENE - THE CASE OF SAFE DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

In the paper the case of the provision of safe drinking water supply is used to highlight the challenges put on sanitary experts in the decision-making process of investments in the municipal infrastructure, taking into consideration the links between local policy, lobbyists, financial and regulatory impact and professional decisions. The owner of the municipal infrastructure is usually the municipality, but the operator is the one who must ensure compliance of safe drinking water to meet the criteria. The characteristics of the water supply system Postojna-Pivka, system status before remediation, the microbiological tests results in the period between years 2009 and 2014, and applied technology solutions during remediation process in 2012, are presented. On the basis of the above mentioned facts, as well as scientific and technical findings on achievable technologies, the challenges for experts, when deciding on the selection of optimal available technology for prospective investment in a municipal infrastructure, are presented.