Audit Objective and Scope
Audit Objective
The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness of actions taken by key agencies to improve access to safe drinking-water with a focus on the NCD. The audit was conducted based on three lines of enquiries:
- The existence of a legal and policy framework on access to safe drinking water in the country;
- The process by which the legal and policy framework is implemented within the NCD; and
- Monitoring arrangements in place to ensure compliance of implementation of the legal and policy framework and the demonstration of improvements to access to safe drinking-water.
Audit Scope
The AGO examined the existence of the legal and policy framework on access to safe drinking-water in the country and regulatory roles functions performed by the key Government Agencies in relation to various aspects of the audit subject. The agencies covered or consulted were:
- The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) as the regulator and allocator of water resources in the country
- The National Department of Health (NDOH) as the water quality surveillance agency for the country;
- Water PNG as water supplier in all urban areas (except the NCD); and
- NCD Water and Sewerage P/L trading as Eda Ranu Ltd as water supplier in the NCD.
Audit Methodology
To gain an understanding of broader issues of sufficiency, accessibility and safe drinking-water; the measures taken to ensure access to safe drinking-water; and also to identify the primary issues and evidence necessary to support an audit conclusion, the AGO used the following evidence–gathering techniques:
- Documentary review;
- Interview;
- Questionnaires;
- Data analysis;
- Physical verifications and
- Research .