Purpose of Report

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RPTB Overview - Objectives

• To provide a framework to identify credible
  incidents/dismiss hoaxes.
• To serve as a Planning Tool that can be adapted
  to a specific users needs
• To provide guidance from the time of discovery
  through remediation and return to normal
  operation

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RPTB Overview - Response Guidance

• Offers guidance on
• Whom to notify
• Actions to take
• How to conduct a Threat Evaluation
• How to collect samples
• How to analyze samples
• How to remediate and recover

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RPTB Overview - Organization

• Six modules
• 1. Water Utility Planning Guide
• 2. Contamination Threat Management Guide
• 3. Site Characterization Sampling Guide
• 4. Analytical Guide
• 5. Public Health Response Guide
• 6. Remediation and Recovery Guide
• Module 0 provides an Overview

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Module Relationships
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Potential Users

• Drinking water utilities
• Laboratories
• Emergency responders
• State drinking water programs
• Technical assistance providers
• Public health officials
• EPA and other federal agencies
• Law enforcement

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Application of Modules
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Module 1 Water Utility Planning Guide
Planning
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Module 1 Water Utility Planning Guide

• Overview of contamination threats and incidents
• Threat warning sources
• Due Diligence threat response
• Preparing for contamination threats
• Updating ERPs
• Establish ICS
• Develop communication plan
• Enhance physical security

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Warnings of Potential Contamination
Security
Witness
Breach
Account
Notification by
Public Health
Perpetrator
Notification
THREAT
WARNING
Notification by
Consumer
Law Enforcement
Complaint
Notification by
Unusual Water
News Media
Quality
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Contamination Threat vs. Incident

• Contamination threat an indication that a
  contaminant may have been introduced (not
  confirmed).
• Contamination incident - the confirmed presence
  of a harmful substance (requires a response)

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Module 2Contamination Threat Management Guide
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Module 2Contamination Threat Management Guide

• Module 2 provides
• A framework for decision-making
• A threat evaluation and management process
• Descriptions of response actions

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Threat Evaluation and Management Process

• Evaluation of all available information to
  determine if contamination is
• Possible
• Credible
• Confirmed
• Work with minimal information
• Iterative process that is updated as more
  information becomes available

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Players in the Threat Management Process

• Drinking water utilities (WUERM)
• Drinking water primacy agency
• Public health officials
• Emergency responders
• Local law enforcement
• FBI

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Is the Threat Possible?

• A threat is deemed possible if the
  circumstances indicate the opportunity for
  contamination
• One-hour target for possible stage

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Is the Threat Possible?

• Information available at possible stage
• Details of the threat warning
• If a threat is possible, potential response
  actions include
• Isolation and containment
• Initiate site characterization and sampling

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Is the Threat Credible?

• A threat is deemed credible if additional
  information corroborates the threat
• 2 - 8 hour target for credible stage.

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Is the Threat Credible?

• Information available at credible stage
• Site characterization results.
• Information from external resources
• If a threat is credible, potential response
  actions include
• Public notification
• Sample analysis more site characterization

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Is the Threat Confirmed?

• A contamination incident is confirmed once
  conclusive evidence is obtained
• May take several days to confirm

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Confirmation of a threat through

• Results of Sample Analysis
• Advantage provides definitive evidence
• Disadvantage may miss contaminant during
  sampling or design of analytical approach
• Preponderance of Evidence
• Results of site characterization
• Assessment by law enforcement
• Assessment by public health agencies
• Additional factors and information

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Is the Threat Confirmed?

• Information available at confirmed stage
• Results of sample analyses
• Additional site characterization
• Information from external resources
• If a threat is confirmed, potential response
  actions include
• Revising of actions taken to protect public
• Planning for remediation and recovery

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Threat Management Process
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Module 3 Site Characterization and Sampling Guide
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Module 3 Site Characterization and Sampling Guide

• Intended for water utility staff and first
  responders
• Contains procedures for conducting site
  characterization activities
• Implemented at possible stage to establish
  credible and confirmed threat

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Site Characterization Procedures

• Planning by the WUERM and/or Incident Commander
• Implementation by the Site Characterization Team
• Site Evaluation
• Field safety screening
• Rapid field testing of the water
• Sample collection

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Site Characterization Process

• Five Stages
• Customizing the Plan
• Approaching the Site
• Characterizing the Site
• Collecting Samples
• Exiting the Site

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1. Customizing the Plan

• Site Characterization Plan customized based on
  nature of threat (4 hazard categories)
• low, radiological, chemical, and/or biological
• Site characterization team assembled based on
  type of threat and safety needs

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2. Approaching the Site

• Establishing site zones
• Site perimeter and staging area
• Protective action zone where specialized PPE may
  be required
• Conduct field safety screening
• Detect environmental hazards (air surfaces).
• Initial evaluation of site conditions
• Determine if it is safe to proceed

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3. Characterizing the Site

• Repeat field safety screening
• Evaluate site conditions
• Signs of intrusion or tampering
• General signs of contamination
• Indicators of chemical contamination
• Rapid field testing of the water
• Additional information for the threat assessment
• Tentative identification of contaminants
• Determine if special precautions are required for
  sampling

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3. Characterizing the Site contd.

• Currently Available Rapid Analytical Assessment
  Tools
• Acute Toxicity Testing
• Rapid Immunoassays
• Rapid Enzyme Test
• Rapid PCR
• Field Deployable GC/MS

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3. Characterizing the Site contd.

• Rapid Analytical Methods
• Technology is rapidly improving
• Results are only presumptive
• These methods are no substitute for standard
  laboratory analyses

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4. Sample Collection

• To follow rapid field testing
• Samples to be collected and analyzed in
  accordance with State Primacy Agency/EPA/USGS
  guidelines

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5. Exiting the Site

• Initiated upon completion of site
  characterization
• Confirm collection of appropriate samples
• Properly document findings
• Secure the site
• Securing a site may involve multiple steps for
  higher hazard level sites and/or crime scenes

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Module 4 Analytical Guide
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Module 4 Analytical Guide

• Intended for planners and labs that may provide
  support to the water utility during an event
• Provides a general approach to the analysis of
  unknowns in water
• Identifies analytical procedures for
• Chemicals
• Radionuclides
• Pathogens
• Not intended as a how to lab manual

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Analytical Approach for Unknown Contaminants
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Current Laboratory Infrastructure
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Environmental Chemistry Labs

• Labs suited to complete analyses for compliance
  with the Safe Drinking Water or Clean Water Acts
• May require advance notice for analysis

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Radiochemistry Labs

• For analysis of a range of radionuclides
• Include EPA, DOE, State and some commercial labs
• http//www.epa.gov/radiation/programs.htm-er
• Federal Radiological Management Center (FRMAC)
  operated by FEMA
• http//www.fema.gov/rrr/rep/index.shtm

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Biotoxin Labs

• Currently few labs with this capability
• Labs with this capability are listed in the
  Laboratory Response Network (LRN)
• http//www.bt.cdc.gov/emcontact/index.asp

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Chemical Weapons Labs

• Chemicals placed on Chemical Weapons Convention
  (CSC) Schedule 1
• Two labs in US qualified and permitted
• US Army Edgewood Laboratory
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories
• Access through Federal Agencies

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Microbiological Labs

• For analysis of waterborne pathogens
• May include hospital, medical, public health
  and/or environmental microbiology labs
• Labs with this capability listed in Laboratory
  Response Network (LRN)
• http//www.bt.cdc.gov/emcontact/index.asp

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Laboratory Response Network (LRN)

• Developed by CDC, Association of Public Health
  Labs and FBI
• Designated to handle bioterrorism events
• Pathogens
• Biotoxins
• Composed of City, County, State and Federal
  Public Health labs
• http//www.bt.cdc.gov/emcontact/index.asp

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Screening for Chemical Contaminants
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Module 5Public Health Response Guide
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Module 5Public Health Response Guide

• Five Public Health Response Actions
• Plan the public health response
• Determine public health consequences
• Implement appropriate operational responses 
• Implement the public notification strategy
• Make available a short term alternate water
  supply (if necessary)

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1. Plan the public health response

• Pre-Threat Planning
• Integrate Health Dept into Utility ERP
• Identify agencies involved and roles
• Develop communication strategy
• Develop operational/health response plans

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2. Determine Public Health Consequences from
Incident

• Post-Threat (contaminant identified)
• Assess acute/chronic health effects
• Determine exposure routes of concern
• Determine stability of contaminant in water
• Calculate ability to spread in distribution system

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3. Implement Appropriate Operational Responses

• Isolation and containment of suspect water
• Elevation of disinfection levels

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4. Public Notification Guidance

• Content
• Specific instructions to consumers
• Explanation of situation
• What is being done to address it
• Format
• Short and simple
• In all common languages
• Methods of delivery
• Broadcast media
• Distribution through community centers

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5. Short-Term Alternate Water Supply

• Water for consumption and sanitation
• Bottled water
• Bulk water hauled to distribution center
• Water for firefighting
• Pumper trucks filled from neighboring supply
• Contaminated water if no other immediately
  available alternative

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Module 6Remediation and Recovery Guide
Recovery Plan
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Module 6Remediation and Recovery Guide

• Intended for entities involved in
  characterization, risk assessment and remediation
• Designed to address incidents that pose immediate
  and/or long term risks
• Overall objective return water system to
  service ASAP

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Roles and Responsibilities

• Recovery is coordinated under the Incident
  Command System
• No single agency (government or private sector)
  possesses the authority and expertise to
  unilaterally implement the remediation and
  recovery program.

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Steps to Remediation and Recovery

• Remedial Design
• Remedial Action
• Post Remediation Monitoring
• Communication to restore public confidence

• Long term alt. water supply
• System Characterization / Feasibility study
• Risk Assessment
• Detailed analysis of alternatives
• Remediation technology selection

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1. Long Term Alternate Water Supply

• Need depends on nature and severity of
  contamination
• State and Federal assistance is likely to be
  required
• EPA, FEMA, Army Corps of Engineers

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2. System Characterization / Feasibility Study

• Detailed assessment of nature and extent of
  contamination
• Preliminary feasibility study of treatment options

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3. Risk Assessment

• Evaluate risk reduction achieved in immediate
  response actions
• Establish preliminary remediation goals
• Assess potential risk reduction from long-term
  remedial actions

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4. Detailed Analysis of Remedial Alternatives

• Evaluation based on
• effectiveness
• technical feasibility
• treatability of contaminant

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5. Remediation Technology Selection

• Advantages/Disadvantages based on
• Protection of human health and the environment
• Compliance with applicable regulations
• Implementability
• Cost

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6. Remedial Design

• Lead agency (assisted by utility, etc.)
  responsible for design
• Includes preparation of
• Specifications
• Documentation
• Detailed Drawings

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7. Remedial Action

• Implementation of Remedial Design
• Treatment system construction, operation and
  maintenance
• Treatment of contaminated water AND
  rehabilitation of system components

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8. Post Remediation Monitoring

• Post-treatment Start-up monitoring
• Monitoring for contaminants of concern
• Regular system performance inspections and
  maintenance
• Regular water distribution system inspection and
  maintenance
• Maintenance of security measures

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9. Communication to Restore Public Confidence

• Public Outreach
• Workshops
• Meetings
• Presentations
• Information Repository
• Revised Public Notifications

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Summary

• The threat of contamination is a reality faced by
  drinking water systems
• All threats should be evaluated to determine if
  they are possible or credible
• Effective management of a contamination threat
  relies on
• Timely and relevant information
• A systematic evaluation of the threat
• Appropriate response decisions

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Summary (contd.)

• Planning for an effective response to a
  contamination threat or incident may be the most
  efficient and effective defense
• http//www.epa.gov/watersecurity
• EPA RPTB download
• http//cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity/home.
  cfm?program_id8