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Tools and Technical Assistance
About PDF Files
EPA provides tools and technical assistance to the water sector and other organizations to help ensure the continued security of our nation's drinking water and wastewater systems. Available resources assist water utilities in performing
vulnerability assessments and developing effective emergency response plans.
Trained environmental professionals, scientists, and engineers provide information on technological advances in water security and supply technical assistance to the water sector and other agencies. Health care providers can access resources that can help them to recognize and manage waterborne disease. The tools listed below can help water utilities and public health and safety personnel to develop and apply appropriate antiterrorism measures and to respond effectively in the event of an incident.
- Pandemic Flu Planning for the Water Sector - A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. In a severe pandemic, absenteeism will increase from illness, the need to care for ill family members, and the fear of infection. Utilities that fail to prepare for the likelihood of pandemic flu may find themselves without the staff, equipment, or supplies necessary to continue providing safe drinking water or treating wastewater for their community. Utilities should integrate pandemic flu planning into existing business continuity and emergency response plans using available guidance documents and other tools for assistance. Information on EPA tools and resources for utilities along with links to other pandemic flu information sources can be found on this page.
- Decontamination and Recovery Planning - Water and Wastewater Utility Case Study (PDF) (12 pp, 875K), EPA 817-F-08-004, September 2008 - This report documents the planning and experiences of a large combined water and wastewater utility related to decontamination and recovery.
The study outlines specific planning steps that may be beneficial to other utilities in their planning and preparedness to respond to a contamination event.
- Water Sector Security Workshops - During 2005, the Water Environment Federation in collaboration with EPA hosted three water sector security workshops involving drinking water as well as wastewater utility operators and other key stakeholders. The purpose of the workshops was to discuss water sector security issues in order to better gauge the current status of water security, outline common challenges, and identify what is most needed to better protect the nation's water infrastructure.
- Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT) - The Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT) is a secure, online database developed by the U.S. EPA that provides information on contaminants of concern for water security. As a planning tool, WCIT can be used to help create and update emergency response plans and site-specific response guidelines. As a response tool, WCIT can be used to provide real-time data on water contaminants to help utilities make decisions if contamination occurs.
- Drinking Water Security for Small Systems Serving 3,300 or Fewer Persons (PDF) (47 pp, 4,291K) - One of the Simple Tools for Effective Performance (STEP) Guide Series. The Water Security Division produced this booklet as voluntary water security guidance for very small community drinking water systems. The goal for this guide is to help these systems understand the basics of water system security that includes Vulnerability Assessments (VAs), Emergency Response Plans (ERPs), and p
- Emergency Response Tabletop CD-ROM Exercises for Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems (EPA-817-C-05-001) - The CD-based tool contains tabletop exercises to help train water and wastewater
utility workers in preparing and carrying-out emergency response plans. The exercises provided on the CD can help strengthen
relationships between a water supplier and their emergency response team (e.g., health officials, laboratories, fire, police,
emergency medical services, and local, state, and federal officials). Users can also adapt the materials for their own
needs. The exercises also allow water suppliers to test their Emergency Response Plans before an actual incident occurs.
In total, twelve unique exercises can be created from the CDROM, incorporating teaching points from documents created by the Water Security Division relating to emergency response.
The trainer or user will be able to select the threat warning from the eight basic types described in the Response Protocol Toolbox (e.g., security breach, witness account, direct notification by perpetrator, unusual water quality, consumer complaints, notification by public health agency, notification by news agency, notification by law enforcement agency).
The trainer or user will also be able to choose from five basic event types: intentional contamination, security breach, cyber security, physical attack, and interdependency. Finally, users are encouraged to adapt the materials on the CD to meet their own needs and objectives.
- Voluntary Water Infrastructure Security Enhancement (WISE) Initiative -
EPA provided grant funding to facilitate the development of guidance,
training, and voluntary standards that cover the design of online
contaminant monitoring systems and physical security enhancements of
drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure systems. The
interim voluntary guidance documents will assist drinking water and
wastewater utilities in mitigating the vulnerabilities of their systems
to man-made threats through the design, construction, operation and
maintenance of both new and existing systems of all sizes. The effort
has been carried out in three stages. The first stage resulted in three
interim voluntary security guidance documents that cover the design of
online contaminant monitoring systems and physical security enhancements
of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure systems.
The second phase resulted in training modules to provide instruction on
the guidance documents. The third phase resulted in the development of
draft standards for trial use to advance physical security measures at
drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities. The products from
the three phases are available on each association's web site below:
- Security Product Guides - EPA has developed a series of individual Security Product Guides to assist water treatment plant operators and utility managers in reducing risks from, and providing protection against, possible natural disasters and intentional terrorist attacks. The guides provide information on a variety of products available to enhance physical security. A recent update provides eight new and three updated individual Security Product Guides.
- Security-Related Sample Questions for State/Tribal Drinking Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Exams Now Available Through the Association of Boards of Certification - The Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) has developed security-related sample questions for use by state and tribal drinking water and wastewater operator certification exam programs in the United States. These questions address security topics including emergency planning, vulnerability assessments, mitigation measures, emergency response, and crisis communications. In order to receive these questions, certification programs must sign an agreement indicating that the questions will be maintained in a secure location and will be used only for certification/licensing exams. The questions are available free of charge and will be shipped in electronic format upon ABC's receipt of the signed agreement. Please contact Suzanne De la Cruz of ABC via email at sdelacru@abccert.org or via telephone at 515-232-3623 to obtain the agreement, or if you have comments or concerns.
Technical Assistance for Eligible Water Community Systems Serving 50,000 to 99,999 People  - The International City/County Management Association and the Water Environment Federation, with funding from EPA, provide technical assistance in completing vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans.
Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC) - WaterISAC is a service developed to provide America's drinking water and wastewater systems with a source of information about water system security and with a secure Web-based environment for early warning of potential threats. Relying on information gathered from federal intelligence, law enforcement, public health, and environmental agencies, and from utility security incident reports, WaterISAC analysts produce and disseminate physical and cyber security information to the water sector.WaterISAC was established by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, with support from EPA and guidance from other national water organizations. Its information and tools provide an important link between the water sector and such agencies. In addition, WaterISAC provides a variety of resources to help utilities complete and continually improve the vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans required by law for many water systems.
Trained Security Assistance Providers for Wastewater Systems - No-cost, on-site vulnerability assessment and emergency response plan assistance is available to small and medium wastewater utilities through the Wastewater Operator Training Program. These environmental assistance providers received specific training on the wastewater Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (VSAT) software developed by the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies . Contact your appropriate state environmental assistance provider for aid.
Recognizing Waterborne Disease and the Health Effects of Water Pollution: Physician On-Line Reference Guide - This guide helps healthcare providers recognize and manage waterborne disease and the health effects of water pollution resulting from natural or intentional contamination of water. The Web site offers free access and 24/7 availability, clinically relevant information, and a repository of physician antiterrorism preparedness resources.
Vulnerability Assessments - Tools are available to help educate the water sector in effective vulnerability assessment methodologies.
Emergency/Incident Planning - Effective remediation and response tools help protect the security of drinking water and wastewater systems in the event that a man-made or technological emergency occurs.
Control Systems Security Web Site - The Department of Homeland Security, Control Systems Security Program is excited to announce a web site developed as a resource for control systems security personnel. The site provides Control System Security Program activities as well as information on cyber threats, vulnerabilities and mitigations. It also provides a convenient event listing that the CSSP is participating in, and an extensive listing of reference documents and other related web links.
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