Division of Drinking Water Emergency Response Plan

1
Security Response Plan for Small Water Systems
2
Potential Threats of Biological Agents

• It is unlikely that a typical small particle
  aerosol attack with toxins would significantly
  contaminate water supplies
• Dilution makes adding toxins to the raw water
  source unlikely to cause human illness
• Direct contamination to the water system would
  need to occur downstream of the treatment plant
  and near the end user, such as storage tanks
• Taste Odor Complaints may be an indication of
  problems
• Damage to infrastructure resulting in loss of
  water service may be biggest threat to public
  health
• Emergency Response Plan (Not just for biological
  emergencies)

Presented by NRWA and WVRWA
3
Response Plan

• Objectives
• Communications
• Resources
• Needs to be in writing

4
Objectives Of Plan

• Minimize Confusion
• Respond Quickly
• Restore System To Normal
• Supply Safe Adequate Drinking Water

5
CommunicationsDaytime After Hours Numbers

• System Personnel Work, Home, Other, (Pager
  or Cellular)
  
• Local Rural Water Association
• Local Health Department
• State Health Department CDPHE WQCD
• County and State Emergency Coordinators
• EPA Regional Office
• FBI

6
CommunicationsDaytime After Hours Numbers

• Emergency Contacts Police, Fire,
  Ambulance, Hospitals, Etc,
• Analyzing Laboratories- after hours telephone
  numbers
• Radio, television, and newspaper contacts
  
• Emergency Equipment generator, portable lights,
  pumps, etc.
• Vendors personnel after hours telephone numbers
• Contractors-excavation, welders, plumbing,
  electrical, etc.

7
Prioritizing Work Repairs

• Drinking water is top priority
• Based on water usage (fire fighting, etc.),
  outside water may need to be brought in
• Possible contamination of water supplies (low
  pressure and backsiphonage)
• Preserving remaining stored water
• Consider establishing a safe watering point
  (citizens can use this for a source of safe
  water)
• Prioritize equipment and personnel
• Map critical areas where water is needed

8
Requests for Emergency Aid

• Authorization to request and provide assistance
• Commercial suppliers of equipment and materials
• Neighboring water systems and agreements

9
Public Notification

• Coordinate press releases (consistent and
  non-conflicting)
• Know the facts (no guessing or speculation)
• Designate one person to be the spokesperson to
  reduce conflicting messages

10
Infrastructure Security

• Make security a priority
• Be on the look out for suspicious behavior or
  people tampering with water facilities.
• Control access to your computer systems and
  change passwords frequently
• Control access to your distribution system and
  increase the monitoring of chlorine residuals
• Report criminal threats, suspicious behavior, or
  attacks on water utilities immediately to the
  local office of the FBI

11
How to Minimize Risks?

• Keep sites well lit. (add more lights)
• Consider Security additions to existing SCADA
  System
• Sites fenced and locked. (change locks)
• Increased monitoring. (chems bac-t)
• Possible outside help with security.
• Have good emergency response plan in place.
• Have contingency plans in place.

12
Conventional Water Treatment Effectiveness

• Anthrax stable in water for two years, spores
  resistant to Chlorine, conventional treatment
  removal 99-99.5
• Cholera survives well in water, easily killed
  with chlorine, conventional treatment removal
  97-99.5
• Salmonella stable for 8 days in fresh water,
  inactivated with chlorine, conventional treatment
  removal 97-99.5
• Plague stable for 16 days in water, chlorine
  tolerance unknown, conventional treatment removal
  97-99.5
• Hepatitis A unknown stability in water,
  inactivated in 0.4 ppm cl2 30 mins., conventional
  treatment removal gt90
• Cryptosporidiosis stable days or more in water,
  oocysts resistant to cl2, conventional treatment
  removal 99.99

13
The Best Defense Is A Good Offensive

• Assess vulnerability to threats and vandalism
• Make a plan to cover all contingencies
• Increase surveillance of infrastructure
• Work with local law enforcement
• Be alert to out of the Ordinary situations/events
• Enlist the help of the public

14
QUESTIONS
For more information, contact West Virginia Rural
Water Association at 1-800-339-4513 www.wvrwa.org