(TLP:CLEAR) EPA Publishes New Incident Action Checklists on Responding to Contamination Events

Summary: Last week, EPA released two new Incident Action Checklists, in addition to other useful resources, to help water and wastewater utilities respond to contamination incidents. WaterISAC encourages its members to review these valuable resources.

Analyst Note: Contamination incidents can occur at any time at a water or wastewater utility by a chemical, biological, or radiological agent through an accidental or intentional action or from a natural disaster. Utilites manage this risk by monitoring and testing water quality continuously, at the source(s) of the water supply and throughout the water distribution network. Despite rigorous monitoring and source protection, contamination incidents can still occur. Highlighting the importance of being prepared for a contamination event.

• Source Water Contamination Incident Action Checklist (pdf) – Provides preparedness, response, and recovery actions water utilities can take for a source water contamination incident. The product states “Increasingly, utilities face source water challenges as they try to ensure the delivery of safe drinking water to their customers. Source water contamination can occur through natural, accidental, or intentional causes such as wildfires, harmful algal blooms (HABs), spills, and releases, and can impact both surface water and ground water systems.”
• Distribution System Contamination Incident Action Checklist (pdf)  – Provides preparedness, response, and recovery actions water utilities can take for a distribution system contamination incident. The product notes that “Distribution system contamination, whether by a chemical, biological (including toxins), or radiological agent, can occur due to natural, accidental, or intentional causes … Regardless of the cause, contamination incidents require a measured and appropriate response to protect public health, critical infrastructure, and the environment.”

Over the past ten years, EPA has published a series of incident action checklists to assist water and wastewater utility’s readiness for natural disasters, cyber attacks, and now contamination events. Each of the checklists covers a different type of disaster or emergency events, such as an earthquake or wildfire, and provides a background of what to expect and actions that should be taken in the preparedness, response, and recovery phases. These checklists also provide links to other resources that can help water and wastewater utilities better prepare for emergencies.

Additionally, EPA released an updated version of its Emergency Response Plan (ERP) Guide for Wastewater Utilities: This updated plan describes strategies, resources, plans, and procedures utilities can use to prepare for and respond to an incident, natural or man-made, that threatens life, property, or the environment.

Original Source: https://www.epa.gov/waterutilityresponse/incident-action-checklists-water-utilities

Additional Reading:

• Decontamination for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities
• EPA’s Water Quality Surveillance and Response System Program Can Help Utilities Enhance Resilience

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 16 & 17