U'S' Environmental Protection Agencys Overview of the Threat to Drinking Water Systems

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Overview
of the Threat to Drinking Water Systems

• Pacific Northwest Drinking Water and Wastewater
  Security Workshop
• Brian M. Frazer
• Water Protection Task Force
• Office of Water
• March 11, 2003

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Overview of Presentation

• Characterization of the Water System
• Potential Attacks for Water Systems to consider
• Possible Consequences of Concern
• Strategies for Reducing Vulnerabilities
• National Resources for Obtaining Threat
  Information

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Characterization of the Water System

• Answers to the following system-specific
  questions may be helpful in characterizing water
  system.
• What are the important missions of the system to
  be assessed?
• What are the most important facilities,
  processes, and assets of the system for achieving
  the mission objectives and avoiding undesired
  consequences?

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Background - - Typical Surface Water Treatment
System
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Characterization of the water system

• Pipes and constructed conveyances
• Water collection, Pretreatment and Treatment
• Storage and distribution facilities

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Characterization of the water system Cont.

• Electronic, computer or other automated systems
  that are utilized by the public water system
  (e.g., Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
  (SCADA))
• Storage, or Handling of various chemicals
• Personnel, Operation and Maintenance

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Potential Attacks for Water Systems to consider

• Biological, chemical or radiological
  contamination of water supplies
• Disruption of supply of pressurized water
• Physical destruction or damage
• Cyber attack on computerized operations
• Interruption of interdependent activities such as
  transportation or electricity

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Consequences of Significant Concern

• Loss of supply of pressurized water or potable
  water supply for a significant part of the system
  
• Long-term loss of supply, treatment or
  distribution
• Catastrophic release of on-site hazardous
  chemicals affecting public health
• Adverse impacts to public health or confidence
  from actual or threatened intentional
  contamination of the water with biological,
  chemical or radiological materials

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Have You Already Improved Security?

• Consider Whether These Strategies Apply To You
• Sound Business Practices
• System Upgrades
• Security Upgrades

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Strategies for Reducing Vulnerabilities

• Sound Business Practices
• Adopt security as an integral part of overall
  operations
• Develop policies and procedures, train and test
  employees on them
• Put someone in charge of implementing an
  effective security program
• Review and revise emergency response plansdrill,
  drill, drill
• Cooperate with adjacent utilities or regional
  utility networks

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Strategies for Reducing Vulnerabilities

• System Upgrades
• Eliminate single-points-of-failure
• Store back-up equipment off-site in a secure
  location
• Develop back-up systems
• Reduce risks from hazardous chemicals or
• Optimize treatment

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Strategies for Reducing Vulnerabilities

• Security Upgrades
• Employ detection devices that characterize the
  intrusion
• Use physical barriers to delay intruders
• Establish contacts and agreements with local law
  enforcement and emergency response officials to
  ensure minimal response times

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National Resources for Obtaining Threat
Information

• The Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center
  (ISAC)
• National Infrastructure Protection Center
• InfraGard
• The Water Critical Infrastructure Protection
  Advisory Group
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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For More Information...

• www.epa.gov/safewater/security