DENVER, Colo., Fev. 11, 2002 -- Large water utilities can get information on assessing and addressing possible terrorist threats to drinking water supply systems through methods recently released by the AWWA Research Foundation.
AWWA Research Foundation, a international water research organization, initiated the Vulnerability Assessment Methodology project with Sandia National Laboratories in June 2000.
The methodology guides drinking water utilities through a security review and assists them in making more informed decisions regarding the protection of their systems.
Eight workshops are being held to train key personnel in the methodology. One hundred and twenty eight (128) water utilities from 39 states and other countries have participated or are scheduled to participate in the Foundation's workshops, which are funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
After the workshops are complete, utilities serving water to approximately 50% of the U.S. will have new tools to evaluate and improve their security and better prepare for intentional sabotage or other emergency events. Other utilities will be included in future training.
Workshops have been held in California, the suburbs of Washington D.C., Chicago and New York City. Four additional workshops are scheduled in February and March.
"The Foundation fast tracked the completion of the project in response to the heightened state of alert following September 11," according to James F. Manwaring, P.E., Executive Director of the AWWA Research Foundation. "The methodology and workshops allow utility managers to tailor the vulnerability assessment to their specific system and invest their resources wisely."
In working with AWWA Research Foundation and it members, Sandia National Laboratories adapted existing performance-based security methodology from the nuclear weapons industry and other critical infrastructure systems and applied it to water utilities.
The methodology covers a risk assessment process including:
* Determining the utility's important assets to protect;
* Determining consequences of losing key assets;
* Defining types of threats and the likelihood of occurrence;
* Defining safeguards to protect systems from sabotage;
* Analyzing the system to determine constraints; and
* Developing a plan to counter or minimize identified risks.
The approach also focuses on examining water utilities' interdependencies with other systems (i.e., electrical systems, transportation systems, energy systems, emergency systems). Screening of employees and a review of security policies and contingency plans are addressed.
Ultimately, an effective vulnerability assessment uses a performance-based approach that continually evaluates how well safeguards are working.
In addition to the Vulnerability Assessment Methodology, the AWWA Research Foundation has a number of other security-related efforts underway. The Foundation recently issued a report, "Design of Early Warning and Predictive Source Water Monitoring Systems," to its subscribers.
With more than 1,000 subscriber members in the U.S. and abroad, the AWWA Research Foundation serves as the central research organization for drinking water suppliers. It has been involved in security and counter-terrorism issues to protect the nation's drinking water since 1999. Since 1983, the Foundation has funded and managed 685 projects valued at $231 million.
More information on the AWWA Research Foundation is available on http://www.awwarf.com or by calling Jeff Oxenford at (303) 347-6105.
