Transcript Document
Security and Emergency
Preparedness for Small
Water and Wastewater
Systems
Rural Community Assistance
Partnership (RCAP)
RCAP’s Approach
Link vulnerability assessment, risk reduction, and
emergency preparedness measures to ongoing tasks
of system management and operation.
Emphasis is on training elected officials serving on
Boards and Councils.
Sanitary Surveys & Vulnerability
Assessments:
A Comparison
The EPA/State Joint
Guidance on Sanitary
Surveys (December
1995) outlines eight
elements as integral
components of a
sanitary survey.
The 2002 Bioterrorism Act
requires the VA to
include a review of six
areas.
The EPA/State Joint Guidance on
Sanitary Surveys (December 1995)
Water source;
Monitoring, reporting, and
data verification;
Treatment;
Distribution system;
Finished water storage;
Pumps, pump facilities,
and controls;
Water system
management and
operations; and
Operator compliance with
State requirements.
Required areas to review in a VA based
on the 2002 Bioterrorism Act
Pipes and constructed
conveyances;
Physical barriers;
Electronic, computer, or
other automated
systems that are utilized
by the public water
system;
The use, storage, or
Water collection, prehandling of various
treatment, treatment,
chemicals; and
storage, and distribution
facilities;
The operation and
maintenance of that
system.
Vulnerability
Assessment
Process
1. Inventory critical
Asset
Management
Process
1. Take inventory.
system components.
2. Prioritize assets.
2. Identify vulnerabilities.
3. Develop an asset
3. Identify actions to
address vulnerabilities.
management plan.
4. Implement the plan.
4. Prioritize actions.
5. Review and revise
from ASDWA/NRWA tool
from Asset Management:
A Handbook for Small
Water Systems, EPA
816-R-03-016
plan.
What happens if the system or source
water is contaminated?
Who will respond to the emergency?
Who will alert community members in order to
prevent further illness and death?
What if there is no available water to fight
fires?
What if the main pumping station and all
access roads fail?
Who would you call?
What if a disgruntled employee or vandal taps
into the distribution line?
Do town employees know how to isolate the
line, and who to notify?
Who is responsible for notifying police,
emergency crews, and the public if there is
an emergency?
Who is responsible for returning water service
to normal operations? What will it cost?
Where will the money come from?
Emergency Response Plan –
Core Elements*
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
System-Specific Information
CWS Roles and Responsibilities
Communication Procedures
Personnel Safety
Identification of Alternate Water Sources
Replacement Equipment and Chemical Supplies
Property Protection
Water Sampling and Monitoring
* From EPA’s Emergency Response Plan Guidance for
Small and Medium Community Water Systems
1. System-Specific Information
System ID or discharge #, population served and
service connections
Sanitary survey (if a water system)
Standard operating procedures and system
description
Distribution map with pressure zones, or collection
map with lift stations, and flow diagrams
Site plans and facility “as-built” engineering
drawings
Communications system operation
Chemical handling and/or storage facilities
Site Staffing Rosters and Employees’ Duties and
Responsibilities
2. Community Water System Roles and
Responsibilities
Hierarchy of decision-makers
– Emergency Response Leader
– Alternate Emergency Response Leader
Incident Command System (ICS)
3. Communication Procedures
Who are the first-responders and how can they be
contacted?
– Internal notification list
– External non-CWS notification list
Public notification and instruction
Mitigation
4. Personnel Safety
Protective equipment
Evacuation plans
Communication channels with emergency personnel
5. Identification of Alternate Water
Sources
Estimation of needed quantities
Agreements with neighboring systems
Bottled water or bulk water provided by a certified
water hauler
Funds to purchase bottled water
6. Replacement Equipment and
Chemical Supplies
Relative priority of equipment and supplies
Funds available to have sufficient replacements on
hand
Shelf life or periodic inspections of replacements
Policies to acquire and maintain
7. Property Protection
Nature of threat nature of protective
response
Access control procedures
Securing buildings against forced entry, and other
property protection procedures and measures
Policies and training on protection
8. Water Sampling and Monitoring
Water sampling skills
Water sampling supplies and equipment
Location of, and communication with analytical
laboratories
Personnel and training on above
RCAP’s eBulletin: A Resource for
Small System Decision-Makers
Electronic news bulletin and technical assistance tool
for small water and wastewater systems.
Published every three weeks.
Subscription is free. Funding is from U.S. Dept. of
Health and Human Services, Office of Community
Services.
Subscription list is not shared and subscribers can
unsubscribe at any time.
Free technical assistance is available through the
eBulletin.
Where to find the eBulletin and how to
subscribe
www.watertrust.org
A Sample of eBulletin Topics
What Can You Do to Secure Your System? Top Ten
Ways to Protect Your Water Supply System
Financial Checkup - How are you doing financially?
Steps to Strategic Planning
Cryptosporidium: Deciphering the LT2
Practical Information for the Rate-Setting Process
A Sample of eBulletin Topics (cont’d.)
Successful CCR's from Across the Nation
How Sanitary is Your Survey?
What to Do When Customers Don't Pay
Water Loss: The Silent Bandit
Straight Talk on Cross Connections
Resources
Security Vulnerability Self-Assessment Guide for
Small Drinking Water Systems (ASDWA/NRWA)
www.asdwa.org
Emergency Response Plan Guidance for Small and
Medium Community Water Systems, EPA 816-R-04002 www.epa.gov/safewater/security
RCAP’s Safe Drinking Water Trust eBulletin
www.watertrust.org
Protecting Your Community’s Assets: A Guide for
Small Wastewater Systems, National Env. Training
Center for Small Communities www.netc.wvu.edu
Asset Management: A Handbook for Small Water
Systems, EPA 816-R-03-016
Resources
RCAP Security and Emergency Response Planning
Toolbox for Small Water and Wastewater Systems
www.rcap.org
RCAP Vulnerability Assessment and Emergency
Response Guides and Templates
– Security Vulnerability Self-Assessment Guide for Water
Systems
– Emergency Response Planning Guide for Public Drinking
Water Systems
– Emergency Response Planning Template for Public Drinking
Water Systems
– Emergency Response Planning Guide for Public Wastewater
Systems
– Emergency Response Planning Template for Public
Wastewater Systems
www.rcap.org
For more information
Rural Community Assistance
Partnership (RCAP)
(888) 321-7227 www.rcap.org
[email protected]