class=Section2>
This document is the
result of collaboration among the Association of Drinking Water
Administrators (ASDWA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(U.S. EPA), the U.S. EPA Drinking Water Academy, and the
National Rural Water Association (NRWA). We also thank NRWA for
the template that was used as the foundation for this project.
Security
Vulnerability Self-Assessment Guide for Small Water Systems
How to Use this Self-Assessment Guide
Security Vulnerability Self-Assessment
Record of Security Vulnerability
Self-Assessment Completion
Inventory of Small Water System Critical
Components
Security Vulnerability Self-Assessment
for Small Water Systems
General Questions for the Entire Water
System
Information
storage/computers/controls/maps
Attachment 1. Prioritization of Needed
Actions
Attachment 2. Emergency Contact List
Section 1. System Identification
Section 2. Notification/Contact
Information
Section 3. Communication and Outreach
Attachment 3: Threat Identification
Checklists
Water System Telephone Threat
Identification Checklist
Water System Report of Suspicious
Activity class=Section4>
Security
Vulnerability Self-Assessment Guide for Small Water Systems
Introduction
Water systems are
critical to every community. Protection of public drinking water
systems must be a high priority for local officials and water
system owners and operators to ensure an uninterrupted water
supply, which is essential for the protection of public health
(safe drinking water and sanitation) and safety (fire fighting).
Adequate security
measures will help prevent loss of service through terrorist
acts, vandalism, or pranks. If your system is prepared, such
actions may even be prevented. The appropriate level of security
is best determined by the water system at the local level.
This Security
Vulnerability Self-Assessment Guide is designed to help small
water systems determine possible vulnerable components and
identify security measures that should be considered. A
“vulnerability assessment” is the identification of weaknesses
in water system security, focusing on defined threats that could
compromise its ability to provide adequate potable water, and/or
water for firefighting. This document is designed particularly
for systems that serve populations of 3,300 or less. This
document is meant to encourage smaller systems to review their
system vulnerabilities, but it may not take the place of a
comprehensive review by security experts.
The Self-Assessment
Guide has a simple design. Answers to assessment questions are
“yes” or “no,” and there is space to identify needed actions and
actions you have taken to improve security. For any “no” answer,
refer to the “comment” column and/or contact your state drinking
water primacy agency.
How to
Use this Self-Assessment Guide
This document is
designed for use by water system personnel. Physical facilities
pose a high degree of exposure to any security threat. This
self-assessment should be conducted on all components of your
system (wellhead or surface water intake, treatment plant,
storage tank(s), pumps, distribution system, and other important
components of your system).
The Assessment
includes an emergency contact list for your use. This list will
help you identify who you need to contact in the event of an
emergency or threat and will help you develop communication and
outreach procedures. Filling out the Emergency Contact List is
an important step toward developing an Emergency Response Plan,
which provides detailed procedures on how to respond to an
emergency.
You may be able to
obtain sample Emergency Response Plans from your state drinking
water primacy agency.
Security is
everyone’s responsibility. We hope this document helps you to
increase the awareness of all your employees, governing
officials, and customers about security issues.
Once you have
completed this document, review the actions you need to take to
improve your system’s security. Make sure to prioritize your
actions based on the most likely threats. Please complete the
Certificate of Completion on page 27 and return only the
certificate to your state drinking water primacy agency. Do not
include a full copy of your self-assessment. Keep this Document
This is a working
document. Its purpose is to start your process of security
vulnerability assessment and security enhancements. Security is
not an end point, but a goal that can be achieved only through
continued efforts to assess and upgrade your system.
Don’t forget that
this is a sensitive document. It should be stored separately in
a secure place at your water system. A duplicate copy should
also be retained at a secure off-site location.
Access to this document should be limited to key water system personnel and local officials as well as the state drinking water primacy agency and others on a need-to-know basis. class=Section6>
Inventory of Small Water System Critical Components
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