Need to know
Subtitle: anticipating the public's questions during a water emergency
By: Scott Minamyer, Cynthia Yund, Dick Tardif
Contributors: Yund, Cynthia; Tardif, Dick; National Homeland Security Research Center (U.S.). Water Infrastructure Protection Division; National Homeland Security Research Center (U.S.). Threat and Consequence Assessment Division; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
Publisher: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Water Infrastructure Protection Division, Threat and Consequence Assessment Division, National Homeland Security Research Center
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Cincinnati, OH
Language: eng
Number of pages: 64
Subjects: Emergency management; Water; Water-supply; Interrogation; Public opinion; Emergency water supply; Security measures; Public welfare
Other titles: Anticipating the public's questions during a water emergency
Description: Since the events of September 11, 2001, improving the security of our nation's drinking water and wastewater infrastructure has been a high priority. As critical infrastructure, water systems can be subject to intentional attacks as well as unintentional contamination and must be protected. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plays a critical role in this effort as the lead federal agency for water security. This investigation was undertaken at the request of EPA to conduct research to: (1) compare public and drinking water professional personnel's assessments of critical information needs arising from the intentional contamination of a municipal water supply; and (2) obtain public evaluation of draft messages developed for such an occasion. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education provided technical assistance. Information was collected from both utility professionals and members of the public (water consumers) in four metropolitan areas in the United States (northeastern, southeastern, midwestern and western). Twenty-four one-hour discussions were held with a total of 38 drinking water utility professionals. Four two-hour focus groups with members of the general public who use the municipal water supply were conducted in each of the four study cities, with a total of 113 respondents participating.
Notes: Format not distributed to depository libraries.

"April 2012."

"EPA/600/R-12/020."

"Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by ORISE"--T.p. verso.