GUIDANCE FOR WATER UTILITY RESPONSE, RECOVERY & REMEDIATION ACTIONS FOR MAN-MADE AND/OR TECHNOLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
Introduction:
This document provides uniform response, recovery and remediation guidance for water utility actions in response to man-made and/or technological emergencies. The guidance was developed as an initiative of EPA’s Water Protection Task Force and has been reviewed with water utilities and associations, EPA Regions, EPA Office of Water and other federal agencies.
The intent of this guidance is to provide the minimum actions that EPA recommends be carried out by a water utility for the events described. Emergency response planning is primarily a local responsibility. Good business practices suggest that every water utility have an Emergency Operations/Response Plan that is coordinated with state and local emergency response organizations, regulatory authorities and local government officials. Water utilities ought to consider whether the actions contained within this guidance have been thoroughly coordinated with these entities.
The Federal Response Plan (section VI) identifies Federal responsibilities and capabilities that can support the local response effort dependent upon the type and severity of the incident. Throughout this guidance “water system” includes the “system” elements of source water (ground and surface), drinking water treatment, drinking water distribution and storage, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment.
Background:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been given the responsibility under Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 63 for working with the Water Sector (including water and wastewater utilities) to provide for the protection of the nation’s critical water infrastructure including the systems used to collect, treat and distribute potable water. The EPA has a similar responsibility for wastewater operations. These critical infrastructures are fundamental to the public health and welfare and are subject to both natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, and man-made hazards such as terrorist attacks. Such disasters could place surrounding areas and populations at significant risk. In October, 2001 the EPA established an internal Water Protection Task Force to ensure that activities to protect and secure water supply infrastructure are comprehensive and carried out expeditiously. This guidance supports the Task Force’s mission of providing information in an expeditious manner to public and private water utilities that can be used to protect public health and critical water infrastructure
Original URL: http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/ndwc/pdf/misc/er-guidance-1.pdf
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