Which statement describes the role of the infection preventionist in establishing a facility's water management plan?

• A. Choose a water management team.
• B. Conduct an infection control risk assessment (ICRA) specifically for potential water exposures.
• C. Have a list for waterborne pathogens available for the team.
• D. Oversee the disinfection processes for keeping water free of pathogens.

Answer: (B)

Focusing on water-related infection risks is essential because the infection preventionist uses an infection control risk assessment specifically for potential water exposures to identify where and how people could be exposed, which populations are most at risk, and what controls are needed. This risk-based assessment provides the foundation for the entire water management plan, guiding decisions about where to implement flushing, appropriate disinfection levels, routine monitoring, and targeted surveillance. Without this assessment, the plan would lack a justified order of priority and evidence-based controls.

Choosing a water management team is more about coordinating effort than defining risk or setting priorities. Having a list of waterborne pathogens is useful, but a static list doesn’t capture facility-specific risks or population vulnerabilities. Overseeing disinfection processes is typically an operations task; the infection preventionist ensures the plan uses correct, evidence-based controls and that outcomes are monitored, rather than directly performing all disinfection activities.