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  2. Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities

Understand and Prepare for Position Navigation and Timing Risks for Water and Wastewater Utilities

This user-friendly fact sheet provides a high-level description of the Water Sector’s use of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Services as well as their risks and potential mitigation considerations. The guide contains four main sections:  

  • Use of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Services
  • Sources of Time for SCADA Networks
  • Mitigating Timing Risks
  • Mitigating Positioning and Navigation Risks

EPA conducted a tabletop exercise in 2022, with sector representatives to test for PNT-related vulnerabilities and risks, focusing on SCADA systems’ use of timing signals. The 24 participants included representatives of water and wastewater utilities of all sizes, state and federal agencies, and associations. Participants engaged in scenario discussions on water and wastewater utility timing signal practices and the potential impacts of a PNT disruption or outage.  This guide draws from discussions/feedback from that exercise.

Position Navigation and Timing Factsheet (pdf) (615.75 KB, 07/2022, 817-F-22-005)

Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities

  • Plan For Emergencies
    • Develop or Update an Emergency Response Plan
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    • Water Sector Guide to Telecommunications During Power Outages
    • Prepare for Position Navigation and Timing Risks
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  • Decontamination
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  • Water Utility Communication During Emergency Response
Contact Us About Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities
Contact Us About Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 19, 2025
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