ASCE, AWWA Release Security Standard Guidelines for Water/Wastewater Utilities

January 10, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

The voluntary standard guidelines - jointly developed by ASCE and AWWA with technical input from the Water Environment Federation (WEF) - are the result of Phase III of the Water Infrastructure Security Enhancements (WISE) program.

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They were created under ASCE's American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited standards development program.

Titled Guidelines for the Physical Security of Water Utilities and Guidelines for the Physical Security of Wastewater/Stormwater Utilities, the draft guidelines are open for public comment and trial use until June 30, 2007.

The guidelines provide drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utilities with practical information to help implement improved security measures in new and existing facilities of all sizes, said the WEF. The documents also address risks from construction and design perspectives and describe physical security approaches for detecting or delaying malevolent parties.

The water guideline covers raw water facilities, wells and pumping stations, water treatment plants, water storage facilities, distribution systems and support facilities. The wastewater/stormwater guideline focuses on collections systems, pump stations, wastewater treatment plants and support facilities.

"Our society depends on a safe and reliable water supply, not only for human consumption but also for other needs such as industry, agriculture and even fire protection," said ASCE Executive Director Patrick J. Natale, P.E., F.ASCE, CAE. "These risk-reduction standards for water, wastewater and stormwater systems are an essential part of protecting our nation's infrastructure from potential terrorist threats and allowing it to continue supporting our economy and public health."

"In today's world, it's critical that we think about the long-term security of our water systems during design and construction," said AWWA Executive Director Jack Hoffbuhr, P.E., DEE. "These guidelines will help utilities ensure that security is an integral part of their overall approach to treating, storing and delivering safe water."

First launched in 2003 and funded by a multi-year grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), WISE was organized to support water and wastewater utilities in mitigating vulnerabilities from man-made threats and natural disasters in existing systems and throughout the design, construction and operation of new systems.

Phase I of the grant led to the creation of interim voluntary security guidance documents for water, wastewater, stormwater and online contaminant monitoring systems.

Released in 2004, the guidelines addressed issues such as risk assessment, threat analysis, financial and communications planning, human resources management, operational maintenance, emergency response strategy, design upgrades for improving physical security and management and operating practices to reduce vulnerabilities to malevolent events.

Guidelines for contaminant monitoring systems addressed system design including assessments for monitoring system needs, locating instruments and sensors and responding to suspected contamination events.

Comprehensive modular-format training materials were then developed in Phase II to disseminate the information in the interim guidance documents such as implementing enhanced security measures in facility design, operation and management and providing water managers, operations personnel, design professionals and regulatory officials with detailed practical assistance for implementing improved security measures.

Copies of the draft standards for trial use are available on each organization's web site at www.asce.org , www.awwa.org and www.wef.org.

Source: Water Environment Federation (WEF).