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  Research Highlights

Improving Security at Water Facilities

Image: A Wastewater Utility
To improve security at the nation’s water utilities, the EPA established a cooperative agreement with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), which partnered with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), to develop guidance and voluntary design standards. To date, the project partners have completed three interim documents, as described below, along with comprehensive training materials. The EPA and its partners are currently completing work on draft standards covering the physical security of water and wastewater/storm water utilities.

Interim Voluntary Security Guidance for Water Utilities

The interim guidance document provides water utilities with guidance on designing new facilities and retrofitting existing ones to enhance security and reduce security risks to the public water supply. The guidance emphasizes facility management, operations, and design considerations that can facilitate the installation and upgrade of physical security systems. The document also provides guidance on enhancing cyber security, selecting the optimal equipment, and developing an emergency response plan.

Interim Voluntary Security Guidance for Wastewater/Storm Water Utilities

The guidance document is intended for wastewater utilities that have completed a vulnerability assessment and are seeking methods for improving system security. While the guidance is primarily focused on design considerations for wastewater and storm water systems, it also provides important information on management and operational practices that can be implemented without major capital investment. The report also provides initial guidance for enhancing cyber security, installing electronic security devices, and developing an emergency response plan.

Interim Voluntary Guidelines for Designing an Online Contaminant Monitoring System (OCMS)

Many water utility operators have identified timely contaminant monitoring as an important element in risk management. The document provides the water infrastructure community with important guidance for the design and implementation of an online contaminant monitoring system (OCMS). The report addresses numerous key issues concerning OCMS development:

  • OCMS development rationale
  • Detection, concentration, and identification of contaminants
  • Instrument and platform selection and siting
  • Data analysis and model use
  • Communication system design
  • Contamination event response
  • Connection to existing surveillance systems
  • System operations, maintenance, and upgrades

The complete guidance document is available at www.asce.org/wise Exit EPA Disclaimer.

To learn more about the EPA’s Office of Water’s work related to water security, visit the Water Security Division’s Web site at www.epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity.

Contact: Kathy Nickel

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