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The Drinking Water Program Security Group is available to assist water system personnel with the contingency planning process. Specifically, the group can offer guidance with security vulnerability assessments, emergency response plans, and tabletop exercises. Much of the information contained on this page is provided in a condensed format; for further information, or to request assistance with enhancing the emergency preparedness of your water system, contact:
Drinking Water Program Security Coordinator
907-269-8924
tyler.fanning@alaska.gov
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The time and effort spent to secure your public water system and develop a contingency plan is a small investment with a big return – Preparedness. Decreasing system vulnerability and preparing and practicing a response plan can save lives, prevent illness, enhance customer confidence, minimize property damage, and lessen liability. Take the time to complete the below steps in the order outlined.
Steps to Enhancing Preparedness:
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1. Perform a Security Vulnerability Assessment (VA)
A comprehensive assessment will reduce the risks faced by a water system and minimize the consequences of incidents when they occur. It is essential that water systems assess the vulnerability of each system component for both natural and human-caused emergencies before drafting an Emergency Response Plan (ERP).
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Tool Description: |
Appropriate for: |
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"Emergency Response Planning Toolkit"
DEC designed CD-ROM; guides you through the process of a VA and ERP. Request one by clicking HERE |
Systems less than or equal to 3300 persons |
"VSAT: Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tools"
*5.0 - New version*
EPA provided software, focuses on a qualitative risk assessment methodology. Click HERE to learn more & download |
All Systems |
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"Water Health and Economic Analysts Tool (WHEAT)"
EPA provided software, assists owners & operators in quantifying public health impacts, utility financial costs, and regional economic impacts of an adverse event. Click HERE to learn more & download |
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2. Develop an Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
An ERP describes the actions that a drinking water utility would take in response to a major incident, such as natural disasters or man-made emergencies— it is the cornerstone of system preparedness. The findings of your VA should be incorporated into your ERP, and your ERP should address a variety of likely and individualized major incidents.
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Emergency Response Planning Tools |
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Systems serving less than 3,300 persons |
Systems serving 3,301 -99,000 persons |
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"Emergency Response Planning Toolkit"
DEC designed CD-ROM; guides you through the process of a VA and ERP. Request one by clicking HERE |
“ERP Guidance for Small & Medium CWS”
EPA generated document which provides a basic ERP outline
Click HERE to obtain a copy |
The above tools outline what a comprehensive ERP should address, and offer guidance on how to structure it. However, they do not provide all the answers. Most systems require additional direction when it comes to spelling out the specific steps that should be taken to plan for and respond to certain types of incidents. Below are some vital aspects of an ERP that you may desire to explore further – CLICK on each to view resources:
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3. Practice and Update ERP
The majority of the work invested into developing an ERP will be wasted if you neglect to practice and revise the plan. ERPs are living documents – emergency contact information, system specific information, and communication pathways are just a few of the components of an ERP that change frequently, and will render the plan useless if not updated.
*Pre-schedule a day annually to revise your ERP*
System personnel should be regularly trained with respect to the ERP. As we all know, emergencies are dynamic, and we can’t plan for it all. Consequently, it is imperative that individuals are well versed with the basics of the plan so that response actions can be effectively tailored to address the uniqueness of the incident. A split-second decision of how to proceed should be a reflex, not a guess.
EPA has recently developed a Tabletop Exercise Tool (TTX Tool) to assist water systems in planning and facilitating exercises. For additional information or to obtain a copy of the TTX Tool, e-mail ttxtool@epa.gov.
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Once You Are Prepared, Stay Informed!
AK Drinking Water Program PREPAREDNESS CORNER
Updates regarding Alaska-specific public water system preparedness developments.
Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC)
An absolute MUST HAVE resource! This secure online portal provides the latest information regarding likely threats faced by systems, innovative preparedness measures, and vulnerability assessment tools – the searchable online library is remarkable. Additionally, this online forum serves as a colleague network allowing water system personnel to connect with peers in Alaska and across the country.
State of Alaska Division of Emergency Management
Stay current with Situation Reports from the State Emergency Coordination Center (SECC), and learn about the state alert and warning network. This resource helps users discover how to become better prepared, and how to connect to community-based response partners.
EPA –Water Security
Many of the guidance documents contained on this page are produced by EPA, and new resources are continually being developed.
AWWA
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has played a significant role in the development of water sector security and emergency preparedness.
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