Outputs: 

1.  Pre-Workshop Survey and Questionnaire

The project overseer will conduct an online, pre-workshop survey that will aim to determine what standards or technical regulations economies have related to plumbing, and specifically to the use of lead in plumbing. The survey will be distributed to all APEC economies. The main purpose of the Survey is to design Workshop Program that best fits the needs of APEC members. Through survey responses, those economies with high use of lead plumbing will be identified, and outreach will be made to identify the specific challenges that these economies face in modifying their domestic requirements.  In some instances, the problem may be lack of awareness of alternatives.  In such cases, the project may adjust speakers to address that concern.  In other cases, the problem may be cost.  The program may be adjusted to reflect the specific challenges that economies face. The findings from the Survey will also be presented at the Workshop.

2. Workshop

The main focus of the project is to organize and stage a one-day in-person workshop, with a possibility of virtual participation if needed, in Seattle, the United States on the margins of SCSC 3 (August 2023). The workshop will include sessions outlining steps that economies can take to reduce lead in water supplies, including:

a) Public health consequences of lead drinking water

b) International efforts led by the WHO, UNICEF and other stakeholders to ensure that all new water systems are constructed with products and materials that meet limitations on lead leaching.

c) Role of national policies and regulations based on international standards and testing/certification requirements for products and materials used in drinking water systems that address lead-leaching, material safety, and performance

d) Impact on domestic and international manufacturers of products and materials used in drinking water systems

e) Role of training and certification of professionals to oversee the design and construction of safe drinking water systems.

3. Project Summary Report

An electronic report of minimum of 4 pages (excluding annexes) that will be available to all economies will be developed at the end of the workshop. It will contain the executive summary, information on the experts/speakers involved, key discussions based on experts/speakers’ materials/presentations and questions-and-answer session, key recommendations, conclusion and annexes which may include agenda, pre-event assessment/post-event evaluation results and other relevant information as appropriate. These materials will be e-mailed to participants and will be made available in the APEC website. It is not expected to be an official APEC publication.  Recommendations for future work will be prepared as part of the report guided by the discussions/results of the workshop.  The project overseer will also survey and compile feedback from participants, especially input related to possible areas for future capacity-building activities.

Outcomes: 

1) The key outcome of this project is the enhanced ability of regulators in APEC economies to understand and apply international standards to eliminate the use of lead plumbing.  Regulators will learn from international standards organizations and other economies who have taken steps to implement the appropriate standards.

2) This workshop will demonstrate to officials in APEC economies the public health consequences of lead plumbing and to make them aware of cooperative international efforts that economies may participate in.  This will hopefully lead to greater international cooperation. 

3) Economies who require technical assistance to achieve their public policy goals will have the opportunity to engage with standards developing organizations and international bodies.  This may facilitate future work.

4) As more economies become engaged in this work, this will lead to 4.

Beneficiaries: The target participants for this project will primarily be regulators and public health officials in APEC economies and from international organizations.  All relevant materials will be made available to non-participants free of charge on the APEC website. It is expected that participants and SCSC members will share the outcomes from the workshop within their governments. 

Women will actively participate in the planning, management, allocation of resources, and implementation of the project and will play key decision-making roles in planning the workshop. The project overseer will actively encourage the participation of women in the workshop, including as presenters at the workshop. 

Description of Appropriate Workshop Participants: 

1) Regulators:  This workshop is intended to enhance regulators’ understanding of the public health consequences of lead in drinking water and the standards and regulatory tools that can be used to prevent it.  Officials from government agencies should have a basic understanding of the rulemaking procedures in their economy and an understanding of public health consequences of lead in drinking water.  Ideally, they should have line or supervisory responsibility for the development or implementation of regulations in their economy.  Government regulators from economies that have already taken steps are welcome because they have experience to share. 

2) Private Sector and Civil Society:  Sound standards-related measures should be developed through a process that provides for meaningful consultation with the public.  As a result, representatives of organizations that regularly review and provide comments to draft measures are also ideal participants.  In addition, representatives of organizations that represent SMEs or women-owned businesses would also provide a different perspective.  Specifically, the project overseer will consult with advisory committees that provide input on trade-related issues to the U.S. government (see “Gender,” below).  The project overseer will consult with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which has deep experience in identifying and incorporating the views of small and medium-sized organizations. 

3) Representatives of international organizations: International organizations have conducted important work to raise public consciousness of the problem of lead in drinking water and the steps that governments can take to reduce it.  Officials from the World Health Organization and the United National Children’s Fund (UNICEF) could provide information on the impact of lead on public health, especially children’s development.   Representatives of standards development organizations can discuss the role that standards play in limiting the use of lead in pipes.