wastewater and onsite systems
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater Treatment Security
Before Sept. 11, 2001, few Americans worried much about terrorist activity, let alone at a wastewater treatment plant. But the threat posed by terrorists and other security risks, such as computer hackers and disgruntled former employees, should not be overlooked; if damaged, a wastewater facility could send untreated sewage and toxic chemical agents streaming into the environment and potentially into drinking water intakes.
To help ensure adequate levels of security at wastewater facilities in our region, NEIWPCC has played a lead role in a number of important efforts. With the help of an EPA grant, we have been helping to coordinate vulnerability assessments at small to medium-size wastewater treatment plants in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island. Security experts have visited at least five plants in each state, identifying assets that need protection and evaluating potential security threats. Each plant receives a report that shows what needs to be fixed, how and when to make the changes, and the cost. As the final step in the process, NEIWPCC has been conducting workshops in the states in which the results of the assessments are shared with managers from other non-assessed plants.
Working in conjunction with the New England Water Environment Association and EPA's New England office, NEIWPCC also developed and conducted eight one-day security and emergency preparedness training workshops for wastewater facilities in New England. The workshops featured a variety of presentations that gave attendees the tools and information needed to help prevent potential threats and to react effectively in the event of an emergency. The workshops attracted hundreds of municipal officials, treatment plant operators, and consulting engineers.
For more information on water infrastructure security and water-related security issues, visit these sites:
EPA Water Infrastructure Security Web Page
EPA; Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems
American Water Works Association - The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is an international nonprofit scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply.
Water Environment Federation, Water and Wastewater Infrasture Security