Water Utility Security: Multiple Hazards and Multiple Barriers
Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 9, Issue 2
Abstract
In recent years, the United States has learned much from natural disasters about risk to infrastructure systems, and now it faces new threats from malevolent attacks and other human-caused sources. The paper provides a comprehensive report on the experience base with water utility disasters and offers guidance for risk management and analysis. It is based on an American Water Works Association Research Foundation project that included a background study, industry interviews, and a workshop. Methods for risk analysis are in limited use by utilities because of a lack of data and lack of training and priority within utilities. Theories have advanced, but they need to be validated and developed further. Other infrastructure systems have characteristics that are similar to water supply, and water utility experience with risk can strengthen them. Risk management in utilities is more complex and far-reaching than current methods handle. For natural hazards, a great deal is known about threats, but less is known about vulnerability and consequences. Human-caused threats need more assessment across the board. Improvements in planning, management, design, construction, and operations are required. In spite of the experience base, a great deal of additional research is required. By adopting smart strategies, utilities can improve security. They have some tools, but require more comprehensive approaches and better tools, which can be used effectively by their workforces. The “multiple hazards” and “multiple barriers” approach also applies to other infrastructure services that have similar features. Work is needed to understand system vulnerabilities and create protective strategies for them as well.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Allen, M. J., Clancy, J. L., and Rice, E. W.(2000). “The plain hard truth about pathogen monitoring.” J. AWWA, 92(9), 64–76.
American Water Works Association (AWWA). (1999). “AWWA Microbiological Contaminants Research Committee report: emerging pathogens—viruses, protozoa, and algal toxins.” J. AWWA, 91 (9), 110–121.
American Water Works Association (AWWA). (2000). “Walkerton Coroner’s Office investigating deaths.” Mainstream, 44(7)1.
IBID44(7)3.
Ballantyne, D. (1998). Proc., 7th U.S.–Japan Workshop on Earthquake Disaster Prevention for Lifeline Systems, EQE International, Seattle.
Brosnan, T., ed. (1999). “Early warning monitoring to detect hazardous events in water supplies.” Risk Science Institute Workshop Rep., International Life Sciences Institute, Washington, D.C.
Burns, N. L., Cooper, C. A., Dobbins, D. A., Edwards, J. C., and Lampe, L. K. (2001). Security analysis and response for water utilities, American Water Works Association, Denver.
Chung, R. (1996). The January 17, 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake: performance of structures, lifelines, and fire protection systems, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Washington, D.C.
Clancy, J. L.(2000). “Sidney’s 1998 water quality crisis.” J. AWWA, 92(3), 55–66.
Craun, G. F., Calderon, R. L., and Frost, F. J.(1996). “An introduction to epidemiology.” J. AWWA, 88(9), 54–65.
Craun, G. F., Hubbs, S. A., Frost, F., Calderon, R. L., and Via, S. H.(1998). “Waterborne outbreaks of Cryptosporidiosis.” J. AWWA, 90(9), 81–91.
DeCillo, V. (2001). “Olympia’s earthquake experiences.” Proc., Workshop on Surviving Disasters: Learning from Experience, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, Colo.
Diemer, D. M. (1998). “Anti-seismic measures on water supply in California.” Proc., IWSA Int. Workshop, Water and Earthquake ’98, International Water Services Association and Japan Water Works Association, Tokyo, 1–21.
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). (1989). Loma Prieta Earthquake, October 17, 1989: Preliminary Reconnaissance Rep., El Cerrito, Calif.
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). (1995). The Hyogo-Ken Nanbu Earthquake, January 17, 1995: Preliminary Reconnaissance Rep., Oakland, Calif.
Eidinger. (2001). “Performance of water systems in earthquakes: vulnerability assessments.” Proc., Workshop on Surviving Disasters: Learning from Experience, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, Colo.
Elliott, W. M. (1996). “Emergency operations in the city of Portland, Oregon, during the Great Flood of 1996.” Proc., Distribution System Symposium, Portland, Ore., American Water Works Association.
Everhart, J. (2000). “Fatal lack of training revealed in Walterton tragedy.” Public Works Online, 〈www.publicworks.com〉 (Dec. 29, 2000).
Ezell, B. C., Farr, J. V., and Wiese, I.(2000a). “Infrastructure risk analysis model.” J. Infrastruct. Syst., 6(3), 114–117.
Ezell, B. C., Farr, J. V., and Wiese, I.(2000b). “Infrastructure risk analysis of municipal water distribution systems.” J. Infrastruct. Syst., 6(3), 118–122.
Fox, K. R., and Lytle, D. A.(1996). “Milwaukee’s Crypto outbreak: investigation and recommendations.” J. AWWA, 88(9), 87–94.
Grigg, N. S. (2002). Surviving disasters: learning from experience, American Water Works Association Research Foundation, Denver.
Grigg, N. S., and Vlachos, E. C.(1993). “Drought and water-supply management: roles and responsibilities.” J. Water Resour. Plan. Manage., 119(5), 531–541.
Haimes, Y. Y. (1998). Risk modeling, assessment, and management, Wiley, New York.
Haimes, Y. Y., Matalas, N. C., Lambert, J. H., Jackson, B. A., and Fellows, J. F. R.(1998). “Reducing vulnerability of water supply systems to attack.” J. Infrastruct. Syst., 4(4), 164–177.
Horsley, M. B., Carlson, D. J., McCarthy, D. W., and Gupta, D. P. (1994). “Design lessons from the flood of ’93.” Proc., Annual Conf., American Water Works Association, Denver.
Humphrey, T. A. (1996). “White knuckle operations during multiple weather related emergencies.” Proc., Distribution System Symposium, Portland, Ore., American Water Works Association.
International Organization of Standards (ISO). (2001). Draft ISO Guide 73, Technical Management Board Working Group on Risk Management Terminology, Geneva.
Jutila, D. L. (1996). “Perils of the Clackamas Rivers.” Proc., Distribution System Symposium, Portland, Ore.
Kaplan, S. (1997). “The words of risk analysis.” Risk Anal, 17(4).
Kloman, F. (2000). “Integrated risk management: understanding the new mantra.” Reactions, April, 22–23.
Kolluru, R. V. (1996). “Risk assessment and management, a unified approach.” Risk management handbook for environmental, health, and safety professionals, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Kusel, M.(1997). “Out front: new plant to meet demands of future.” Mainstream, 2, 12.
Levitt, A. M. (1997). Disaster planning and recovery: a guide for facility professionals, Wiley, New York.
McMullen, L. D.(1994). “Surviving the flood: teamwork pays off in Des Moines.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 86(1), 68–72.
McReynolds, L., and Simmons, R. L.(1995). “LA’s rehearsal for the Big One.” J. AWWA, 87(5), 65–70.
Miller, M. (2001). “Seismic upgrades and planning for post-earthquake water service: level of service planning.” Proc., Workshop on Surviving Disasters: Learning from Experience, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, Colo.
Mossman, M. (2000). “Water official to testify today in fatal Canadian E. coli case.” Denver Post, Dec. 18, 12A.
Noji, E. K. (1997). The public health consequences of disasters, Oxford University Press, New York.
Reid, J.(1994). “Overcoming flood: how Midwestern utilities managed disaster.” J. AWWA, 86(1), 58–67.
Riordan, R. A.(1995). “Mutual aid and emergency response for water utilities.” J. AWWA, 87(5), 52–58.
Roefer, P. A., Monscvitz, J. T., and Rexing, D. J.(1996). “The Las Vegas Cryptosporidiosis outbreak: 1996: an introduction to epidemiology.” J. AWWA, 88(9), 95–106.
Schiff, A. J. (1995). Northridge Earthquake: lifeline performance and post-earthquake response, Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering, ASCE, New York.
Sletten, H., and Vein, C. (2001). “Grand Forks flood experience.” Proc., Workshop on Surviving Disasters: Learning from Experience, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, Colo.
Solo-Gabriele, H., and Neumeister, S.(1996). “U.S. outbreaks of Cryptosporidiosis.” J. AWWA, 99(9), 76–86.
Tanaka, S.(1995). “Shaken into action.” J. AWWA, 87(5), 71–75.
Thornley, S.(1997). “Minnesota operators respond to flooding.” Opflow, 11, 1.
IBID11, 4–5.
Todd, D., et al. (1994). Northridge Earthquake: performance of structures, lifelines, and fire protection systems, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2000). 〈www.epa.gov〉 (Dec. 15, 2000).
Van Hoose, J. (2001). “Rocky Mount, N.C.: standardized emergency mutual aid response.” Proc., Workshop on Surviving Disasters: Learning from Experience, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, Colo.
Young, M. B., and Means, E. G.(1995). “Earthquake lessons pay off in Southern California.” J. AWWA, 87(5), 59–64.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 16, 2002
Accepted: Dec 13, 2002
Published online: May 15, 2003
Published in print: Jun 2003
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.