By Penny Randall Terrorism, Security, & Water Water is a threatened commodity.

Threatened from dwindling resources, from mismanagement, from environmental pollution, from terrorist acts, and from who knows what else. This article focuses on waters risk from terrorism and the security we have or dont have to protect it, and us, the population. A May 26, 2009 assessment report was generated by the Congressional Research Service prepared for Members and Committees of Congress. It was enlightening and frightening. The leading paragraph states, Damage to or destruction of the nations water supply and water quality infrastructure by terrorist attack or natural disaster could disrupt the delivery of vital human services in this country, threatening public health and the environment, or possibly causing loss of life. Interest in such problems has increased greatly since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Given the awareness of this countrys vulnerability the report went on to note that currently there are no federal standards or agreed upon industry practices within the water infrastructure sector to govern readiness, response to security incidents, and recovery. Funding for defining and implementing a program of security for the water infrastructure was provided to the tune of $862 million in appropriations to conduct security vulnerability assessments. The DHS was given responsibility to coordinate information and the EPA is the lead federal agency in drinking water and waste water utility system protection. Background: Since 1941 the countrys public utilities, particularly water supply facilities, have been considered vulnerable to attack. The water infrastructure system is critically linked with other infrastructure systems, especially electric power and transportation. Currently these systems comprise a staggering number of facilities, including dams, water distribution, wastewater treatment and sewer lines, pipes, and reservoirs and aqueducts. Ownership is a nightmare of public and private ownership with no real plan of coordination in an emergency. Each city, county, state, federal, and privately held piece of the water pie is managed independently with only loose oversight of EPA guidelines. Prior to September 11, focus on security was on vandalism, theft, and disgruntled employees. The focus is

much broader now. The malevolent threats of terrorists, domestic and foreign are now at the forefront. Currently: In 2000 the EPA established partnerships with the American Metropolitan Water Association (AMWA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to develop measures to safeguard the nations water supplies from terrorist acts. The heightened security has focused on vulnerability assessments and security improvements. Redundancy of operations, public notification, and coordination with local law enforcement in the face of an emergency, whether natural or terrorist related have been implemented in most areas, particularly urban areas. The threat of cyber attacks has also been addressed to a large extent with cyber security measures. Utility officials are naturally reluctant to reveal their security measures. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) focused attention on developing databases within the water distribution system as assessment tools for evaluating biological or chemical threats. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working on guidelines dealing with biological threats. Unfortunately, in 2001 the Presidents Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection characterized this ongoing water research as a small effort. A number of gaps were noted in four major areas that remain relevant and cause for concern today. Four Major Areas of Concern: Threat/vulnerability assessments Identification and characterization of biological and chemical agents A need to establish a center of excellence to support communities in conduction of vulnerability and risk assessment Application of information assurance techniques to computerized systems used by water utilities, as well as oil, gas, and electric sectors for operational data and control operations.

Question: Where are we in correcting the aforementioned areas of concern? Where are we in upgrading laws, guidelines, and standards for Best Practices regarding the life blood of the American public? And no I am not referring to Oil.