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RESPONDING TO THREATS AND INCIDENTS OF INTENTIONAL DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION
Citation:
Allgeier, S. C. AND M L. Magnuson*. RESPONDING TO THREATS AND INCIDENTS OF INTENTIONAL DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education. Universities Council on Water Resources, Carbondale, IL, 129:13-17, (2004).
Description:
All drinking water systems have some degree of vulnerability to contamination, and analysis shows that it is possible to contaminate drinking water at levels causing varying degrees of harm. Furthermore, experience indicates that the threat of contamination, overt or circumstantial, is probable. Thus, there is a clear need to address the contamination threat. While certain steps may be taken to reduce the vulnerabilities and prevent intentional contamination, it is impossible to completely eliminate this vulnerability, although a utility could spend a lot of resources trying to do so. Instead, it may be more effective to plan for responding to contamination threats that do arise. Management of a contamination threat involves: 1) planning for the response prior to an incident, 2) evaluating the credibility of the threat, and 3) implementing appropriate response actions based on available information and the circumstances of the situation. This article provides an overview of the process for managing a contamination threat, while more detailed guidance is available from the Response Protocol Toolbox: Planning for and Responding to Drinking Water Contamination Threats and Incidents, available at: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/security/