Emergency Planning For Water Utilities

Water and wastewater utility managers will find expert guidance on all issues regarding security and emergency preparedness and response in this book. The terrorist attacks on the US of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, brought heightened concern over the security and emergency preparedness of America's water supply infrastructure--concerns which remain high to this day.

This manual presents principles, practices, and guidelines which deal with natural disasters, accidents, or intentional acts that have the potential to disrupt water services. Discussions include applications of knowledge and experience about specific systems, determination of vulnerable components of the system, and offers of strategies for improvement of the deficiencies, including alternate policies.

Water and wastewater utilities must be prepared for any type of emergency. Public health must be protected and service must be maintained or quickly restored. Manual M19 presents techniques for developing contingency plans for a variety of emergencies from natural disasters to human-caused crises. The manual explains how to develop an emergency preparedness plan, how to identify vulnerabilities in your water system, and how to determine how a disruption would likely impact service. The manual includes a separate, 20-page booklet "Security Analysis & Response for Water Utilities," which provides guidance in hazard assessment, vulnerability assessment, mitigation, development of a response plan, and crisis communications for a utility security breach.

Annotation This manual presents principles, practices, and guidelines which deal with natural disasters, accidents, or intentional acts that have the potential to disrupt water services. Discussions include applications of knowledge and experience about specific systems, determination of vulnerable components of the system, and offers of strategies for improvement of the deficiencies, including alternate policies.

Of critical importance to all utilities, this report includes a checklist of best management practices for self-assessment for disaster preparedness. This report addresses both natural and human-caused threats or hazards.