Water System Security
| The resources listed here are to help public water systems
develop or modify their security and emergency response plans. A number of water systems have asked for information on security products for their systems. The following link will take you to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website that gives some basic information on security products appropriate for water systems.
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Criteria for Evaluating Emergency Plans
- Have all major system parts been listed on the plan (e.g., wells/source, storage, distribution)?
- Which parts are subject to natural disasters, manmade disasters, terrorist attacks or trespassing?
- Which parts of the system are subject to which type of emergency situation(s)?
- What steps have been taken to reduce the threat from vandalism, terrorism, trespassing (e.g., locks, fences, security systems)?
- What would further reduce the threat or vulnerability?
- Is another source of water available if needed (e.g., bottled water, water tank truck)?
- Can the system completely or partially disinfect the water system disinfection elements (e.g., chemical feed pumps and injection points)?
- Is there a list of who is in charge during an emergency (chain of command)?
- Are spare parts, chemicals, etc., available for emergency operation and repair?
- Is there an emergency power source to run the water pumps and control system [e.g., portable generators, Power Take Off (PTO) for well(s)]?
- Is there an up to date emergency contact list?
Emergency Phone Contact List for Community Water Systems
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Emergency Phone Contact List for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems/Transient Non-Community Water Systems
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Emergency Planning Guide for Drinking Water Systems
Contingency/Emergency Response Plan for Community Water Systems
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Contingency/Emergency Response Plan for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
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American Red Cross
220 Oakcreek Drive
Lincoln, NE 68501-3267
402-441-7997 weekdays
402-441-7038 after hoursNebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Suite 400, The Atrium
1200 N Street
Lincoln, NE 68509-8922
402-471-0275Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 95026
Lincoln, NE 68509-5007
402-471-1007 weekdays
402-499-6922 after hoursNebraska Emergency Management Agency
1300 Military Road
Lincoln, NE 68508-1090
402-309-7210 weekdays
402-471-7421 after hoursNebraska Rural Water Association
3390 Ponderosa Drive
Wahoo, NE 68066
402-443-5216
800-842-8039Nebraska State Fire Marshal
246 South 14th Street
Lincoln, NE 68508-1804
402-471-2027Nebraska State Patrol
P.O. Box 94907
1600 Highway 2
Lincoln, NE 68509-4907
402-471-4545
Public Water System Security Response Protocols
Suspicious Activity Identified
- Note unusual traffic, telephone threats, and apparent surveillance activities at or near the facility:
a. Document date, time, vehicle description, license plate number, and number of occupants.
b. Summarize observed facts and report to law enforcement agency. Keep record for file.
c. Telephone threat: make note of voices, tones, background, accents and any emotional perceptions.
d. Call local authorities and the Department at 402-499-6922.2. Suspected Unauthorized Entry to Facility:
a. Isolate affected portion of the system when practical.
b. Preserve the crime scene, minimize activities in the area, and protect responders.
c. Call 911 or local law enforcement officer. Require local office to communicate concerns to superior and Nebraska State Patrol that reported incident may be more than vandalism. Nebraska State Patrol has a statewide intelligence collection system to determine if others are targets.
d. Call the Department at 402-499-6922.3.Confirmed Unauthorized Access to Facility:
a. Complete items under suspected unauthorized entry.
b. Issue “DO NOT DRINK ORDERS” when the risk to public health is suspected.
c. Consult with the Department before resuming normal service.
Water Security Information Websites
American Water Works Association
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Chlorine Institute
- Department of Homeland Security
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Federal Emergency Management
Nebraska Center for Bioterrorism- Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
- Nebraska Emergency Management Agency
- National Emergency Management Association
- National Response Center
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Water and Wastewater Security Product Guide)- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention
- U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Office of Emergency Preparedness
- Water Health Connection
- Perform a vulnerability assessment to find what part of your system is open to attack or damage in order to successfully secure your facility.
- Prepare (or update) an Emergency Response Plan. Plans should be reviewed annually. All employees must receive adequate training to effectively carry out the emergency plan.
- Post emergency contact numbers at your facility, in your consumer confidence report, customer bills, web pages and any other highly visible area such as the office, pump-house, and on your vehicles. All personnel should have updated emergency contact numbers, which should be shared with your local law enforcement and response officials.
- Get to know your local law enforcement officials. Ask them to add your facilities to their routine rounds. Practice emergency response procedures with local law enforcement, emergency responders and public health officials.
- Fence vulnerable areas at your drinking water facilities (e.g. wellheads, pump-house, treatment buildings and storage tanks).
- Lock all access points to your facility (e.g. access gates, doors, windows, hatches, finished water). Also, lock monitoring and observation wells to prevent vandals or terrorists from pouring contaminants directly into ground water near your source. Set alarms to indicate illegal entry.
- Install motion-activated lights around the perimeter of water system facilities.
- Limit access to your water system. Do not allow anyone unassociated with your system to enter or wander around your facility unescorted. Verify the identity of delivery people. Request strangers to leave, or call local law enforcement if you have trespassers.
- Monitor water quality. Be on the watch for unusual conditions, including signs of intrusion and/or contamination (unusual water color, odors, sheens, fish kills and sudden increased chlorine demand). Perform regular inspections of your system. Document date, time and conditions found. Conduct inspections at random times and days.
- In the event of an emergency, follow your emergency response plan and call the Department at 402-499-6922.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Protocol Response Tool Box
EPA developed a toolbox to help systems plan for intentional contamination threats and incidents.
It is organized in modules. Users are encouraged to review the brief overview before using other modules. The titles of the modules are as follows:
Overview of the Response Protocol Toolbox (EPA-817-D-03-007)
Water Utility Planning Guide-Module 1 (EPA-817-D-03-001)
Contamination Threat Management Guide-Module 2 (EPA-817-D-03-002)
Site Characterization and Sampling Guide-Module 3 (EPA-817-D-03-003)
Analytical Guide-Module 4 (EPA-817-D-03-004)
Public Health Response Guide-Module 5 (EPA-817-D-03-005)
For more information contact:
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Drinking Water and Environmental Health
P.O. Box 95026
Lincoln, NE 68509-5007
Phone: 402-471-1007
E-mail: randy.fischer@dhhs.ne.gov
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