Drinking Water Security Activities in Idaho

1
Drinking Water Security Activities in Idaho

• Dave Hovland
• State of Idaho-DEQ
• Drinking Water Program

2
Agencys Mission for Drinking Water Security

• Provide security information, technical
  assistance, and training to Idaho water systems
• Coordinate educational outreach through groups
  like the Association of Idaho Cities (AIC)

3
Time Frames for Submitting Vulnerability
Assessments and Emergency Response Plans
4
What Activities Have been Completed?

• Security issue of the Drinking Water Newsletter
  sent to all water systems in late 2001
• An emergency response plan guide and list of
  certified bulk water handlers posted on DEQs
  web-page
• Helped develop the Security Vulnerability
  Self-Assessment Guide for Small Water Systems
  with NRWA and ASDWA
• Coordinated VA training for water systems over
  50,000

5
What are we doing now?

• Drinking Water Security position established in
  January 2003
• Revising DEQs web-site to include additional
  security links and VA/ERP tools
• Preparing an updated Drinking Water Newsletter
  devoted to drinking water security
• Participating in Governors Bioterrorism
  Preparedness and Response Program

6
What is planned for the future?

• Continue to evaluate VA tools/training for water
  systems in the 10,000 to 50,000 range
• Continue to focus training opportunities in
  security to include evaluation of manmade threats
  as well as natural disasters
• Provide drinking water and wastewater security
  training to DEQ/Health District staff

7
Coordination Activities with Federal, State,
Local Groups

• Coordinating educational opportunities with AIC,
  administrators, and water system operators
• Working with AIC and local authorities to focus
  on risk reduction/prevention rather than just
  reaction (potential predictive threat indicators
  such as trends of vandalism)
• Continue coordinating training opportunities with
  Pacific NW states