GLEN ROSE WATER SUPPY CONTAMINATION

1
GLEN ROSE WATER SUPPY CONTAMINATION

• August 19-29, 2002
• Glen Rose, TX
• Presented by Chris Ruhl, EPA Dallas, TX

2
Situation

• Perpetrator(s)
• Cut a Perimeter Fence
• Climbed a 25ft Tank
• Opened a Locked Hatch of a Drinking Water Tank
• Water in 200,000 gal Tank and 158,000 gal Stand
  Pipe Compromised
• City Unable to Determine if a Public Threat
  Existed

3
Agencies Involved

• EPA
• FBI
• Texas Department of Health
• Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
• Department of Homeland Security

4
Plan of Action

• Isolate Water Supply
• Collect Criminal Evidence
• Determine if Water was Safe to Drink
• Procure Laboratory Support
• Obtain Samples
• Determine if event was a Terrorist Event
• Alert Health Care Facilities

5
Unique Questions

• What to Sample for?
• Who Can Do the Analysis/Expertise?
• What about Turn-Around-Times?
• Preservation/Sampling Technique Interferences

6
Types of Analysis Conducted

• Traditional Drinking Water Parameters (1-5 days)
• Hazard Characterization (HAZCAT) (Field)
• Radiation (1 day)
• Warfare Agents (1 day)
• Forensic (7 days)
• Light/Polarized Microscopy
• Infrared Analysis
• Electron Microscopy
• X-Ray Diffraction

7
Issues Encountered

• Fire Fighting Vulnerabilities
• Low Pressure/Low Volume
• Identifying Sensitive Customers
• Maintaining Acceptable Pressure in Water Lines
• Water Users Grew Unhappier the Longer Incident
  Continued

8
Results

• All Laboratory Results were Negative/Non Elevated
• Must Have Access to Historical Analysis Data
• City, State Agencies, EPA discussed Findings
• Determined Water to not be a Threat
• Criminal Investigation supported Laboratory
  Results
• City Drained Cleaned Tank
• City Put System Back in Service on August 29,
  2000 (10 days)

9
Suggestions

• Prepare
• Vulnerability Assessment
• Assess Possible Assets
• Laboratory
• Outside Assistance
• Prevent
• Security Efforts
• Surveillance
• Respond
• Implement Emergency Plan
• Communicate with Community on Situation

10
Suggestions

• Prepare
• Vulnerability Assessment
• Assess Possible Assets
• Laboratory
• Outside Assistance
• Prevent
• Security Efforts
• Surveillance
• Respond
• Implement Emergency Plan
• Communicate with Community Actions

Questions????