Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities
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December 2011

Water ISAC's security resources

Posted Mon, 2011/12/19 - 3:19pm by RCAP

The Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC) has resources in the areas of:

Format: 
Report
Topic: 
Security/emergency-response planning
Source: 
Other nonprofit/organization
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Plant manager
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

EPA's website on water security

Posted Mon, 2011/12/19 - 3:13pm by RCAP

Improving the security and resilience of our nation's drinking water and wastewater infrastructures is vital to ensure the provision of clean and safe water to all in the United States. Significant actions are underway to assess and reduce consequences, threats, and vulnerabilities to potential terrorist attacks; to plan for and practice response to natural disasters, emergencies, and incidents; and to develop new security technologies to detect and monitor contaminants and prevent security breaches.

Format: 
Website
Topic: 
Security/emergency-response planning
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Plant manager
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

Drinking Water Security for Small Systems Serving 3,300 or Fewer Persons

Posted Mon, 2011/12/19 - 3:11pm by RCAP

One of the Simple Tools for Effective Performance (STEP) Guide Series

Designed for community water systems (CWSs) serving 3,300 or fewer persons. CWSs include all publicly and privately owned systems providing drinking water to at least 25 year-round residential customers or 15 year-round service connections. This guide may be useful for:

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Security/emergency-response planning
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Plant manager
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

VSAT - risk-assessment software

Posted Mon, 2011/12/19 - 3:02pm by RCAP

VSAT is a risk-assessment software tool for water, wastewater, and combined utilities of all sizes. The tool assists drinking water and wastewater owners and operators in performing security threats and natural-hazards risk assessments, as well as updating utility emergency response plans. EPA, in collaboration with water-sector partners, has updated VSAT to be consistent with the 2007 Risk Analysis and Management for Critical Asset Protection framework.

Format: 
Software tool
Topic: 
Security/emergency-response planning
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Plant manager
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

New York Times: As gas drilling spreads, towns stand ground over control

Posted Fri, 2011/12/16 - 4:06pm by RCAP

A Dec. 14 article in the New York Times begins:

SOUTH FAYETTE, Pa. — As energy companies move to drill in densely populated areas from Pennsylvania to Texas, battles are breaking out over who will have the final say in managing the shale gas boom.

The fight, which pits towns and cities against energy companies and states eager for growth, has raised a fundamental question about the role of local government: How much authority should communities have over the use of their land?

RCAP Strategic Plan 2011

Posted Fri, 2011/12/16 - 3:10pm by RCAP

RCAP Strategic Plan 2011
September 27, 2011

Background

EPA-regulated Drinking Water Contaminants

Posted Thu, 2011/12/15 - 3:24pm by RCAP

Section of the EPA website that includes information on:

  • National Primary DW Regulations
  • List of DW Contaminants & MCLs
  • National Secondary DW Regs
  • List of Secondary DW Regulations
  • Unregulated Contaminants

Go to the site

Format: 
Report
Topic: 
Regulations
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Operator

Utilities Helping Utilities: An Action Plan for Mutual Aid and Assistance Networks for Water And Wastewater Utilities

Posted Thu, 2011/12/15 - 3:19pm by RCAP

This white paper provides guidance on creating and implementing a mutual aid and assistance program within any of the states and territories that have not yet created such a program.

Read the report

Format: 
Report
Topic: 
Regional cooperation
Security/emergency-response planning
Source: 
AWWA
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

American Water Works Association section of website for small systems

Posted Thu, 2011/12/15 - 3:13pm by RCAP

Links to numerous resources produced by AWWA and others that assist small water systems.

Go to site

Format: 
Website (with more resources)
Topic: 
Operations - technical operations of facilities and infrastructure
Infrastructure
Finance
Reporting
Rates
Management
Construction
Regulations
Loans/grants
Energy use
Planning
Public policy
Regional cooperation
Security/emergency-response planning
Board/council
Borrowing
Customer relations/service
Asset management
Source water
Source: 
AWWA
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper
State/federal decision-maker

Public communications toolkit

Posted Thu, 2011/12/15 - 3:11pm by RCAP

To communicate effectively during a crisis, background preparation is necessary. This section of the American Water Works Association website provides you with a plan template that helps you respond before, during and after a crisis, as well as media tips and preparedness checklists.

The Public Notification Rule

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Customer relations/service
Source: 
AWWA
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)