(TLP:CLEAR) Operational Resilience – EPA’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Utility Response Protocol Toolbox

Summary: Contamination incidents by a chemical, biological, or radiological agent, through an accidental or intentional action or from a natural disaster, can occur at a water or wastewater utility at any time. Therefore, every utility should be prepared to respond in the event of a contamination incident. To help with that effort, EPA created the Drinking Water and Wastewater Utility Response Protocol Toolbox.

Analyst Note: Water and wastewater utilities can experience contamination incidents, either intentional or accidental, from a variety of sources. Indeed, increased calls to poison the water supply by violent extremists and other threat actors and the growth of wildfires, which can introduce contaminants into the water supply, highlight the contamination risk utilities face. 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. In the event of a contamination incident, EPA’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Utility Response Protocol Toolbox can help utilities address contamination events at the treatment plant and within the distribution and collection networks. To help prepare for contamination incidents,  utilites are encouraged to review EPA’s “Planning for and Responding to Drinking Water Contamination Threats and Incidents” guidebook.

As part of National Preparedness Month, WaterISAC encourages its members to re-evaluate their preparedness and resilience efforts and update them based on recent developments in the all-hazards threat environment.

Original Source: https://www.epa.gov/waterutilityresponse/drinking-water-and-wastewater-utility-response-protocol-toolbox

Mitigation Recommendations:

• EPA’s Water Quality Surveillance and Response System Program Can Help Utilities Enhance Resilience
• Decontamination for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities
• Planning for and Responding to Drinking Water Contamination Threats and Incidents

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 16 & 17