New US water security plan
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently made available a series of sector-specific security plans (SSPs), including its just-completed Water Sector-Specific Plan, the strategic roadmap for future federal water security efforts
The Water Sector plan was developed through a partnership between DHS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the sector-specific agency for the water sector), the Water Sector Coordinating Council, and the Government Water Sector Coordinating Council. Water and wastewater organizations involved in the council include the AWWA, WEF, NACWA, NAWC, AMWA and the NRWA.
The plan outlines four goals for the sector to drive development of protective programs and measures of success: Sustain protection of public health and the environment; recognize and reduce risks; maintain a resilient infrastructure; and increase communication, outreach and public confidence.
There are approximately 160,000 public drinking water utilities and more than 16,000 wastewater utilities in the United States. About 84 percent of the U.S. population receives its potable water from these drinking water utilities and more than 75 percent has its sanitary sewage treated by these wastewater utilities.
According to the report, the water sector (including drinking water and wastewater) is vulnerable to a variety of attacks, including contamination with deadly agents and physical and cyber attacks. If these attacks were to occur, the result could be large numbers of illnesses or casualties or denial of service that would also affect public health and economic vitality.
Critical services such as firefighting and health care (hospitals), and other dependent and interdependent sectors such as energy, transportation, and food and agriculture, would suffer negative impacts from a denial of Water Sector service. In collaboration with the entire sector, a broad-based strategy to address security needs is being developed and implemented. This work includes preparing vulnerability assessment and emergency response tools, providing technical and financial assistance, and exchanging information. www.pennnet.com
