By Robert A. Goober, P.E.
May 10, 2002 -- In the wake of the terrorist acts of September 11th, small and large water suppliers alike have been looking to assess the vulnerability of their systems and develop measures to reduce the risks and consequences of terrorist or criminal attacks.
Municipal and water utility officials across the nation have been taking steps to improve security. Large municipalities are testing their water systems more frequently to make sure they are safe from intentional contamination. Many water suppliers are implementing physical changes by including more video cameras and intrusion alarms, padlocking entrances that were once unlocked, installing new fencing and barbed wire, and increasing surveillance.
What is the federal government doing?
After the September terrorist acts, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christine Todd Whitman announced the establishment of a Water Protection Task Force to help federal, state, and local partners expand their tools to protect drinking water supplies from terrorism. "The threat of public harm from an attack on our nation's water supply is small. Our goal here is to ensure that drinking water utilities in every community have access to the best scientific information and technical expertise they need and to know what immediate steps to take and to whom to turn for help," Whitman added.
The task force provides water suppliers with immediate guidance on improving security and identifying gaps in infrastructure protection and preparedness. The task force also considers how EPA can support efforts by water suppliers to speed up local vulnerability assessments and improvements. The goal is to ensure that water utility officials are taking steps to identify vulnerable areas and to quickly limit terrorism threats.
Will there be funding for needed improvements?
Recently, EPA received approximately $89 million in supplemental appropriations from Congress for fiscal year 2002 to help improve the safety and security of the nation's water supply. These funds are intended to assist in reducing the vulnerability of water utilities to terrorist attacks and to enhance their security and ability to respond to emergency situations.
In late March, EPA posted the details on how this funding will be made available to large systems regularly serving more than 100,000 people on its website at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/security/index.html. The deadline for application was April 29, 2002.
Funding for Medium and Small Systems and Security Improvements
Will there be funding for medium and small systems is a big question. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has estimated that an additional $450 million is needed to provide for vulnerability assessments for these community water systems.
It has further been estimated that an additional $1.6 billion is needed for the first round of physical security improvements to include sensors, cameras, and alarms. Based on the results of the vulnerability assessments, additional funding will likely be needed for the second round of security improvements, such as additional storage tanks and backup pumps. (AWWA members presented these security concerns to Congress at the AWWA Security Fly-In on March 20 and 21, 2002.)
More information on this grant program is available by contacting the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or via e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected].
How the Funding May be Used
Through this grant program, large water utilities will be eligible to receive up to $115,000 to develop vulnerability assessments, emergency response/operating plans, security improvement plans or designs (not the actual physical improvements), or a combination of these efforts. Utilities may use grant funds for in-house or contract support. The Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund can be used for security improvements.
Determining the systems that regularly serve more than 100,000 people has been one of the more difficult parts of this funding process. The identification process has been further complicated because both wholesale and retail systems are included. Once the security planning grants have been disbursed, EPA intends to use the balance of the supplemental appropriations to develop training and tools for medium and small systems.
About Weston & Sampson
Weston & Sampson offers water utilities services in the following areas:
• System-wide vulnerability assessments;
• Fencing systems, intrusion alarms, and lighting systems, including motion detectors and remote monitoring;
• Emergency response planning and updating;
• Water quality sampling programs;
• Water distribution system geographic information system (GIS) development to identify distribution system piping and valving components and incorporate them into emergency response plans; and
• Coordination with security and video camera monitoring firms to address full-service needs.
About the Author: Robert A. Goober, P.E. can be contacted at (978) 532-1900 or by e-mail at [email protected] for more information.
