Emergency Management for Water  and Wastewater Systems

Contents

• Water System Security
• Water & Wastewater System Security
• Emergency Response Plans for Water and Wastewater Systems
• Related MRSC Web Pages
  • Emergency Planning at the Local Government Level
  • Water Use Restriction Ordinance Provisions

Water System Security

In June 2002, the President signed PL 107-188, the Public Health, Security, and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act ("Bioterrorism Act"). Title IV of the act pertains to drinking water security and safety. Specifically, the bill requires community water systems serving more than 3,300 people to assess their vulnerability to terrorist attack. In addition, community water systems must prepare or revise emergency response plans that incorporate the results of the vulnerability assessment. Water systems must certify to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) within six months of the completion of the vulnerability assessment that they have completed an emergency response plan.

• EPA Issues Recommendations to Improve Security at Drinking Water Facilities - LGEAN
• EPA Water Infrastructure Security
  • Publications
• Threat Advisory ( 133 KB), EPA Office of Water Protection Task Force February 7, 2003 via LGEAN
• Water and Wastewater Product Security Guide - EPA
• Emergency Response and Security - Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Office of Drinking Water
• Guidance Document: Preparation of Water Shortage Response Plans ( 125 KB), Washington State DOH, Division of Drinking Water, June 2005
• Security and Preparedness Resources -  American Water Works Association

Water & Wastewater System Security

• Water Infrastructure Security Enhancement (WISE) - The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), with a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), have developed a comprehensive three-phased program to address physical infrastructure security needs for water supply, wastewater and stormwater, and online contaminant monitoring systems
• Protecting Your Community’s Assets: A Guide for Small Wastewater Systems - National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities (NETCSC) via LGEAN
• Security and Emergency Response Planning Toolbox for Small Water and Wastewater Systems  -  Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) 

Emergency Response Plans for Water and Wastewater Systems

• Emergency Response Plan Guidance for Small and Medium Community Water Systems, EPA,  April 2004       
• Rural & Small Water and Wastewater System Emergency Response Plan Template ( 269 KB) prepared  by  National Rural Water Association, July 2003, on Volta Enterprises Web site  
• State Response Plan Guides
  • Maine - Emergency Response Plan Handbook    
  • Mississippi -  Management Training Manual for Board Members of Public Water Systems, Mississippi State University Extension Service, revised March 2006 
  • Nebraska -  Public Water System Emergency Response Plan (189 KB)  (Template)
  • Washington  -   Emergency Response Planning Guide for Public Drinking Water Systems ( 1.56 MB), Washington State DOH, Pub. #331-211, May 2003
• Local Response Plans
  • City of Enumclaw Comprehensive Water Plan, Appendix N,  Emergency Response Plan ( 1.9 MB), March 2006
  • City of Battleground Water System Plan, Emergency Response Plan  ( 945 KB), December 2004