Presented At Southeast Chapter of TAWWA
August Meeting08/21/03
ByBuck Henderson
ManagerPublic Drinking Water Section
Water Supply Division
2002 Bioterrorism Act (Public Law 107-188)
< VA’s for CWS >3,300 population ServedÍ Between 50,000 & <100,000 due 12/31/03Í Between 3,300 & <50,000 due 06/30/04 * Note: ERPs are due 6 months after submittal of VAs
< FOIA Protection
< Increased Penalties
Texas HB 9
< State Protection from open records & openmeetings for security sensitive information
< Protection of VAs, ERPs, security systems& location of security cameras
< Developed a Critical InfrastructureProtection (CIP) Council to advise theGovernor
Critical Infrastructure Protection Council
<Dept of Agriculture<Office of Att. General<General Land Office<Public Utility Commission<TCEQ<Tx Dept of Health <Dept of Information Services<Dept of Public Safety<Division of Emergency Management<Tx National Guard<Railroad Commission<Tx Strategic Military Planning Commission<Tx Dept of Transportation
Critical Infrastructure Protection CouncilDuties
<Develop a statewide CIP Strategy <Develop an annual report to the Governor to:Í Update progress on CIP StrategyÍ Provide status & funding of state security
programsÍ Recommend actions to reduce threats to
Homeland SecurityÍ Recommend ways to improve alert, response
and recovery capabilities of state & localauthorities
A “Vulnerability Assessment” (VA) is an evaluationof a water system that identifies the system’s security
weaknesses and focuses on possible threats to itsability to provide safe and adequate drinking water.
"Security Vulnerability Self Assessment Guide ForSmall Drinking Water Systems Serving Populations
Between 3,300 and 10,000" - (Handout Outline)
TCEQ Home Web site :http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/AC/comm_exec/homelands
ecurity.html#water
A Vulnerability Assessment addresses risksfor all components of a Water System
<Wellhead or Surface Water Intake<Treatment Plant<Storage Tank(s)<Pumps<Distribution System
Six Common Elements of a VulnerabilityAssessment
<Description of the Water System
< Identification & prioritization of possible emergencysituations
<Determination of Critical Components that might besubject to attack
<Assessments of the Likelihood of such an attack
<Evaluation of existing response measures
<Analysis of current risk & development of a prioritizedplan for risk reduction
An “Emergency Response Plan” (ERP) is a wellthought-out series of planned actions designed to
allow operators to effectively respond to natural andman-made emergencies.
Events That May Trigger A Response
< Security Breach < Direct Utility Notification/Threat< Media Notification< Law Enforcement/National Alert< Early Warning System< Consumer Complaint< Public Health Notification
Who To Contact For A Possible Event
<InternalÍ ERPÍ Communication Tree <ExternalÍ Local Law Enforcement (911) & ERsÍ TCEQ Region Office (24-hour Hotline # 1-800-255-3924)Í Civic Government<Incident CommandÍ Criminal InvestigationÍ Public Health InvestigationÍ Environmental Response & Remediation
Who Determines Threat Credibility ?
< Role of Law Enforcement
< Role of The Utility
< Role of The TCEQ PDW Program
< Role of the State Health Department
< Role of Local & Other State Governments
Immediate Operational Response
< Isolation & Containment
< Backflow / Purging
< Elevated Disinfection
Contengencies For Public HealthResponse
< Alternate Water Supply
< Bottled Water
< Fire Protection
< Sanitation
Information Used For A ThreatAssessment
<Previous security events @ the utility<National trends for security events (ISAC)<Details of the circumstances that triggered the
event<Warnings & Alerts<Intelligence Information<National/Sector/DEM Threat Level<Site Characterization<Field Screening Results<Analytical Results<Distribution System Modeling<Additional Resources
Site Characterization
The process of collecting information from the site ofa suspected contamination event at a DW System
<Site Investigation<Field Safety Screening<Rapid Field Water Testing<Sample Collection<Maintain Crime Scene Integrity Í Avoid disturbing physical evidence<Photos/videos may likely be helpful
General Evidence of PotentialContamination
<Discarded gloves, masks, goggles & protectiveouterwear
<Discarded equipment - tubing, hoses, pumps,sprayers, etc.
<Unusual empty containers (caution !)
<Unusual residual material around the site-powders, granules, oily liquids, metallic debris,etc. (caution !)
Signs of Possible ChemicalContamination
<Unexplained dead/sick wildlife<Unusual dead, discolored or withered vegetation<Oily liquid on surfaces or oily film on water
surface<Unusual odors Í Almonds, peach, fruity/flowery,
sharp/pungent, garlic/horseradish, sulfur,new mown hay, irritating
<Unexplained low lying fog
Typical Public Health ResponseMeasures
< Boil Water Advisory
< Don’t Drink Advisory
< Don’t Use Advisory
< Seek Medical Attention
Who Is Involved In RemediationEfforts ?
< Role of The Utility
< Role of The TCEQ
< Role of Remediation Teams
< Role of the State Health Department
Remediation, Disinfection &Decontamination
<Characterization of Contaminated Area
<Containment of Contaminated Water
<Treatment, Disinfection & Decontamination
<Disposal of Decontamination Residuals
<Return to Normal Operation
How Can A Water System Prepare ?
< Conduct a VA< Develop an ERP < Develop Response Guidelines< Establish & Maintain a Communication
Tree< Familiarize First Responders to your WS< Training & Desk/Field exercises< Enhance Physical Security< Implement An Early Warning System
Effective Communication WithStakeholders
<Let Public know you have Identified yourweaknesses thru VAs & ERPsÍ But do not provide details of weaknesses
and corrective actions you will take<Being too free with your system’s security
information is a vulnerability itself<Your goal should be to provide enough
information so the public is reassured & keyplayers are prepared, but limit access to sensitiveinfo by the “need to know” rule
VA & ERP Communication Targets
< Internal Staff (most important)< State Drinking Water Agencies< First Responders< Priority Customers & community
Organizations< General customers< Others (Public Health Sector & other
systems)
Common Questions
< Who performs/pays for responsesampling?
< Who performs/pays for analyses of watersamples suspected of contamination?
< Who determines what to test for?
“He is best secure from dangers who is on hisguard even when he seems safe” -Syrus Publilius
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