Vulnerability Assessment for Small Water Systems

1
Vulnerability Assessment for Small Water Systems

• Lance Nielsen
• Drinking Water Program Manager

March 2003
2
Overview

• Large number of Very Small Water Systems lt3,300
  population
• Risk management is prudent even for very small
  systems (no legal requirement)
• ASDWA and NRWA developed Security Vulnerability
  Self-Assessment for Small Drinking Water Systems

3
VA Self-Assessment Guide

• Addresses six elements in broad fashion
• Does not address security issues in OM manual,
  or EPA baseline threat
• Prioritization process (Attachment 1)
• Emergency Contact List (Attachment 2)
• Threat Identification Checklists (Attachment 3)

4
VA Self-Assessment Guide Questionnaire

• General Security
• Water Source
• Treatment Plant/Suppliers
• Distribution System
• Personnel
• Information/Computers/Maps/Controls
• Public Relations

5
Prioritization of Needed Actions

• Summarize vulnerabilities
• Identify most likely threats
• Identify critical assets
• Schedule improvements/modifications
• Significant risk reduction can often be
  accomplished at minimal cost

6
Emergency Contact List

• Provides quick access to important contacts
• Identifies who to contact based on problem
  encountered
• Minimizes stress during emergencies
• Prepares systems for the unexpected

7
Threats to Small Systems

• Natural disasters
• Earthquakes - Floods
• Severe storms - Drought
• Man-made/Evildoers
• Vandals - Disgruntled employee
• Computer hacker - Disgruntled customer
• Terrorist
• Consequences
• Loss of potable water supply
• Loss of fire flow
• Contaminated water

8
Summary

• Risk management is important to utilities
• 9/11 has increased attention to evildoers threats
• Keep focus on primary utility mission
• Uninterrupted supply of safe water
• Uninterrupted/adequate supply of fire flow
• Self-Assessment guide is abbreviated approach to
  manage risk and reduce vulnerability