# Presentation: 379428

## Water SecurityUpdates & InitiativesAsset Management WorkshopMay 5, 2005

- Presented by:
- Jim Wheeler
- Office of Wastewater Management
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

## Overview

- Background
- EPA’s Role in Water Security
- 	- Tools
- 	- Guidance
- 	- Research
- Program and Products
- - National Infrastructure Protection Plan
- Security Product Guide
- Design Standards
- Water Sector Coordinating Councils

## Security: An Integral Part of Asset                             		   Management

- Maintaining Customer Service
- Protecting the Critical Infrastructure
- Effectively Managing the Assets
- Similar Requirements
- Similar Tools

## Water Utilities in the United States

- 168,000 drinking water systems
- 54,000 of these are community water systems
- About 9,000 of these are required to undertake vulnerability assessments and develop or revise emergency response plans
- 16,000 publicly-owned wastewater treatment works
- About 3,000 serve major metropolitan areas

## Water Utilities

## Wastewater Utilities

## Laboratory Capability

## EPA Role

- Authority:
- Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002
- Homeland Security Presidential Directives
- Structure:
- EPA is designated as the Sector-Specific Agency
- Water Security Division
- National Homeland Security Research Center

## Purpose of Water Sector Security 			 Programs

- Goal
- The Nation’s water sector has in place security programs that _reduce risk_ to public health, the environment, and critical infrastructure from terrorist or other intentional acts
- How we achieve this goal
- Through leadership and assistance, promote the adoption of water security practices that enhance the sector’s ability to _prevent, detect, respond to, and recover_ from terrorist or other intentional acts

## Prevention

- Vulnerability Assessment Tools
- 	- VSAT
- 	- RAM-W
- Physical Security
- Security Product Guides
- Voluntary Standards for System Design
- WaterISAC and WaterSC, Homeland Security Information Network

## Detection

- Information Tools (e.g., WCIT)
- Laboratory Compendium (_[www.epa.gov/compendium](http://www.epa.gov/compendium)__)_
- WaterSentinel
- Research Efforts

## Response

- Emergency Response Planning Guidance
- Contamination Response Protocol Toolbox
- Emergency Response Training and Tools
*Emergency Response Tabletop CD-ROM Exercises *
*2-Day Free Workshops: Emergency Response to Threats of Intentional Contamination of Public Water Supplies** *

## Recovery

- Alternative Treatment
- Decontamination Strategy
- 	- NACWA (AMSA)
- 	- WERF
- 	- AWWA
- 	- EPA

## Utilities Role

- Maintain Customer Service
- 		- Minimize Disruptions During Emergencies
- Protect the Assets
- 		- Minimize Vulnerability
- Protect Public Health
- 		- Provide Safe Drinking Water
- Protect the Environment
- 		- Adequately Treat Wastewater

## Slide 15

## For More Information

- www.epa.gov/safewater/security
- www.epa.gov/nhsrc
- _[www.waterisac.org](http://www.waterisac.org/)__ and watersc.org_
- Jim Wheeler			Curt Baranowski
- OWM 				Water Security Division
- (202) 564-0662 		202-564-0636
- _[Wheeler.james@epa.gov](mailto:Wheeler.james@epa.gov)__ __	__baranowski.curt@epa.gov_