bottled vs.tap: - Virginia Water Environment Association

Disaster Managementfor Water and Wastewater UtilitiesBy Robert Forgione, PE, member, UMCThe Utility Management Committee(UMC) hosted a disastermanagement workshop inNorthern Virginia from July31-August 1, 2012. Disastermanagement proved to be a very populartopic as the 50 available seats were filledbefore the registration period ended. Thecourse was presented by Ron Lavenderand David Spruiell of the Texas EngineeringExtension Service (TEEX) of Texas A&MUniversity and Linda Warren of Launch!Consulting. The course was developed byTEEX with funding provided by the U.S.Department of Homeland Security.Major workshop topics included identificationof threats to water and wastewatersystems, reducing vulnerabilities, respondingto threats and actual incidents, andrecovering from disasters. Among others,workshop discussions included shuttingdown SCADA systems and operatingmanually to simulate a SCADA failure,sampling chemical deliveries to confirm thecorrect chemical and strength, and tappinginto County Emergency Operations Center.For information on vulnerability assessments,assessment tools for water andwastewater facilities, emergency responsetools, Virginia’s water and wastewaterresponse network (www.vawarn.org) andFEMA programs check out www.vdh.state.va.us/ODW/WaterInfrastructureSecurity.htm. Discussions on storm preparednesscan be found on the EPA site http://water.epa.gov/drink/index.cfm. An Internet searchon EPA Water Security Initiative, USEPAResponse Protocol Toolbox, Cyber SecurityDepartment of Homeland Security, andActive Shooter Department of HomelandSecurity will also unveil other supportingwebsites. Additionally, WaterISAC provideseducational webinars for disaster managementand emergency response.Workshop participants were reminded of thefollowing best practices:• Keep copies of your emergency operationsplan in managers’ vehicles.• review your vulnerability assessmentand emergency response plan eachyear.• have contacts at CDC or other laboratoriesto assist with analyses you cannotperform but that may be needed duringemergencies.• Store facility drawings off site.• Use message mapping to deliver consistentpublic announcement messages.The workshop was informative and led tovarious lively discussions. If there is interest,the Utility Management Committee can hostanother session in Virginia. For informationcontact committee chair Matt Stolte atmstolte@blacksburg.gov. New membersare welcome.The workshop held the full attention of participants on day one….…which continued through the second day of the presentation.PITTSBURGTANK & TOWERMAINTENANCE CO., INC.SAVE!We have a crew inYOUR AREA!Inspections Repair New & Used TanksWet In Service Cleaning Relocation ElevatedDry Paint Erectors UndergroundROV Insulation Dismantles Ground Storage(Robotic) API Mixing SystemROV inspections can be viewed onTV console during inspection & DVDprovided. All inspections includebound reports, recommendations andcost estimates.Hugh McGee270-826-9000 Ext. 330www.watertank.com8 The Conduit – Fall 2012527740_Pittsburg.indd 14/15/11 9:40:35 PM