Before the days of 9/11, heightened terrorism alerts and air travel delays, the biggest security risk facing most small water systems was keeping would-be Romeos armed with a gallon of red paint from proclaiming their love from the top of the water tower.
However times have changed and most water systems have been forced to take a closer look at system security.
In this article we'll take a look at the critical steps water boards can take to ensure that they are not only meeting all the new state and federal security requirements, but are taking every necessary precaution to ensure that the citizens they serve have an adequate, uninterrupted, and safe supply of water.
To meet this need, the Environmental Protection Agency suggests that water systems across the nation:
1. Know their system: Define your goals, mission and objectives.
2. Identify threats: Take a good look at your strengths and weaknesses.
3. Consider the consequences: Take a moment to ponder what would happen if...?
4. Assess the likelihood: Determine what type of threat you realistically face.
5. Evaluate measures: Take a long hard look at what you are currently doing.
6. Plan of action: Consider your risk potential and develop a plan of action.
Additional Resources
www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/security/util-inst.pdf [1]
Is Your Water System Secure?
While water systems serving a population larger than 3,300 are required by law to complete vulnerability assessments (VAs) and emergency response plans (ERPs) under the Bioterrotism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, many small water systems have yet to heed the government's recommendations that they too should enact a plan to protect their most vital assets—the customer.
''It's crucial to take the big-picture approach to the concepts of vulnerability and emergency preparedness,'' says Joy Barrett, Director of Training and Technical Services for the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP). In her work, she has found that many municipal water officials and plant staff feel that a terrorist attack is the least probable of the crises they may face. ''But they are concerned about hurricanes, vandalism, etc. Comprehensive preparedness is what the focus of our security work has been all about.''
Like many water industry leaders, Barrett feels that proper planning and training should be a priority of all water systems, regardless of size. ''We need to institutionalize security by making Vulnerability Assessments and Emergency Response Plans a standard element at every facility.''
Additional Resources
www.epa.gov/safewater/dwa/pdfs/vulnerability3300-10000.pdf [2]
Vulnerability Assessments.
Don't let the impressive title fool you, VAs are a relatively simple, step-by-step evaluation of your water system and its operations to determine just how vulnerable it is to terrorist attack or other intentional acts which can disrupt the system’s ability to provide a safe and reliable supply of water.
It all begins with identifying assets, (e.g., people, equipment, facilities) and potential threats to those assets. This process doesn't require an expensive staff of trained researchers. It can be performed by utility staff or by a third party, but ideally, it is done by both. Many times an outside observer will pick up on potential problems that might be overlooked in-house.
Tip: Consider utilizing staff from other water systems in your area when completing Vulnerability Assessments.
Additional Resources
www.epa.gov/safewater/security/va_fact_sheet_12-19.pdf [3]
Emergency-Response Plans
The next step on the road to securing your water system is to draft an emergency response plan that incorporates the findings of your VA.
Think of your ERPs as a guide to follow when a situation arises that is severe enough to be declared a water emergency. Your ability to respond to an unforeseen event is a critical part of being prepared.
According to the EPA, a comprehensive ERP should:
1. Define and quickly identify an emergency situation and initiate timely and effective response action.
2. Establish a procedure to quickly notify local, state, and federal agencies to assist in the response.
3. Protect human health by being able to quickly determine if the water is safe to drink or use and provide a clear means to immediately notify customers and advise them of the appropriate protective action.
4. Direct the water system staff to quickly respond and repair damages and minimize system downtime.
Additional Resources
drinkingwater.utah.gov/documents/compliance/emergency_response_guide.pdf [4]
Good Neighbors Provide Good Security.
While the sight of good ol' Mrs. Jones dressed in her gauzy nightgown with her hair up in curlers and support stockings rolled down around her slightly swollen ankles would clearly scare off most would-be attackers, it's recommend that every Emergency Response Plan include an updated list of emergency phone numbers that should be posted at your facilities in highly visible areas.
Remember, one of the first lines of defense against threats to your water system is the people living near critical components such as wells, pumphouses, and other treatment facilities. They are often the first to recognize when something seems out of place.
The listing of emergency contacts should include telephone numbers where system employees, local law enforcement, and state emergency management officials can be contacted 24-hours a day.
In order to fully utilize the help of your neighbors, it is also a good idea to print the list of emergency contact numbers on refrigerator magnets or small cards that can be handed out for quick reference.
Listings of state and local emergency contact information should be available through your state primacy agency.
Additional Resources
www.epa.gov/safewater/security/pdfs/fs_security_smallsuppliers_top10.pdf [5]
Could it Happen to You?
In June 2001, hundreds of residents living in rural Ohio were horrified to learn that the safety of the drinking water flowing into their homes had been threatened.
To the water customers served by the North Canton Water Department, the threat was especially troubling because, as they later learned, it had come from within.
In the weeks following the June 2001 discovery of the industrial solvents PCE (tetra-chloroethane) and TCE (Trichloroethylene) in two of the city's wells, special agents from the FBI arrested a former water department employee.
The discovery of the chemicals was made by alert water system employees who reported a strange smell coming from the area around the wells. According to local prosecutors, city, county, and state agencies spent roughly $1.4 million investigating and dealing with this water emergency.
Had the water department not taken immediate action—issuing a do not drink or bathe order that led to a six-day water crisis—the threat could have posed a serious health threat to the local residents.
Fortunately, the threat was quickly discovered and local authorities responded in a timely manner, avoiding any serious health problems.
Simple Precautions Could Make the Difference.
According to police reports, the disgruntled former water department employee had little, if any, problem accessing the wells since they were routinely left unlocked.
To the rational mind it's hard to imagine that, for the cost of a few good padlocks, a potentially tragic event could possibly have been avoided altogether.
''Everyone's facilities were built with doors and gates and windows that lock,'' pointed out Carrie Lewis, Superintendent of the Milwaukee Waterworks in a January 2002 article for American City and County. ''The first thing is to use those things that are already available to us, and the second thing is to get the buy-in of your employees. Those are the people who are at the facilities around the clock, and they can assess whether something they see or hear is unusual and alert others [for response].''
While the incident in Ohio was contained and warnings were issued to customers in a timely manner, the mere fact that someone was able to gain access to the city's water supply poses many serious questions that water providers across the nation should be seeking out answers to.
Additional Resources
www.epa.gov/ogwdw/security/guide/index.html [6]
Security is a Top Priority
The days when the top threat to your water system might include an adventurous animal that didn't know how to swim finding its way into your storage tank are in the past.
A recent poll conducted at Columbia University found that only 35 percent of Americans believe that their community has an adequate emergency response plan in place.
Never fear, help is available from a number of technical assistance organizations and government agencies including:
• Rural Community Assistance Partnership
• National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities
• State Primacy Agencies
• EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-(800) 426-4791
With the help of these organizations and others dedicated to creating and providing comprehensive training programs for rural water systems, it could be possible to provide increased security at little, or no cost, to your customers.