The reality of the post-September 11 situation forces the operators of water supply systems through the world to examine the security and safety of their systems, its vulnerability to intentional interference and sabotage with respect to quantity and quality of potable water. In assessing system vulnerability, there is an urgent need to develop emergency response plans providing ways and means for alternative water supply at the moment of system operation disruption, and system remediation and recovery after the attack. Security of Water Supply Systems: from Source to Tap presents the state-of-the art with a view to the future, conclusions from past experiences are highlighted and future developments are suggested in the field of drinking water safety.

The provision of safe drinking water is one of the primary responsibilities of all governments, which address and share this responsibility through various levels of administration, ranging from the municipal to federal level, and further sharing of such responsibilities with public or private water utility companies. Recent reviews indicate the existence of significant vulnerabilities of all components of the infrastructure in general, among which the water supply systems are considered the most critical because of it’s importance to human life. Indeed, such systems encompas huge number of stuctures, plants and devices that might become a target of sabotage, and they all may be found in major components of each water supply system: the raw water sources (usually a reservoir, a river intake, or groundwater aquifer), water purification plants (encompassing various treatment processes), and water distribution networks bringing potable water to the consumers. Consequently, the reality of the post-September 11 situation forces the operators of water supply systems throught the world to examine the security and safety of their systems, it’s vulnerability to intentional interference and sabotage with respect to quantity and quality of potable water. In assessing the system vulnerability, there is an urgent need to develop emergency response plans providing ways and means for alternative water supply for the moment of system operation disruption, and system remediation and recovery after the attack.

Protecting and maintaining water distributions systems is crucial to ensuring high quality drinking water. Distribution systems-consisting of pipes, pumps, valves, storage tanks, reservoirs, meters, fittings, and other hydraulic appurtenances-carry drinking water from a centralized treatment plant or well supplies to consumers' taps. Spanning almost 1 million miles in the United States, distribution systems represent the vast majority of physical infrastructure for water supplies, and thus constitute the primary management challenge from both an operational and public health standpoint. Recent data on waterborne disease outbreaks suggest that distribution systems remain a source of contamination that has yet to be fully addressed. This report evaluates approaches for risk characterization and recent data, and it identifies a variety of strategies that could be considered to reduce the risks posed by water-quality deteriorating events in distribution systems. Particular attention is given to backflow events via cross connections, the potential for contamination of the distribution system during construction and repair activities, maintenance of storage facilities, and the role of premise plumbing in public health risk. The report also identifies advances in detection, monitoring and modeling, analytical methods, and research and development opportunities that will enable the water supply industry to further reduce risks associated with drinking water distribution systems.

The brand new manual provides step-by-step guidance to determine revenue requirements, analyze rates, develop a financial plan, and design a better rate structure -- even with limited resources and data. Written for small water systems (defined as serving a population of up to 10,000) it focuses on the unique attributes of small systems as related to financial planning and rate design, with the understanding that most data is contained in the current customer billing system, and merely needs to be massaged. With details plus a sample case study, it helps develop a rate structure that emphasizes simplicity and ease of billing, while at the same time recognizes cost recovery and equitability. Also covered are communications with the public, which is integral to a successful rate restructuring, regulatory approval, system development funding, and rate phase-in.

Each year more than 200 million people are affected by floods, tropical storms, droughts, earthquakes, and also operational failures, wars, terrorism, vandalism, and accidents involving hazardous materials. These are part of the wide variety of events that cause death, injury, and significant economic losses for the countries affected. In an environment where natural hazards are present, local actions are decisive in all stages of risk management: in the work of prevention and mitigation, in rehabilitation and reconstruction, and above all in emergency response and the provision of basic services to the affected population. Commitment to systematic vulnerability reduction is crucial to ensure the resilience of communities and populations to the impact of natural and manmade hazards. Current challenges for the water and sanitation sector require an increase in sustainable access to water and sanitation services in residential areas, where natural hazards pose the greatest risk. In settlements located on unstable and risk-prone land there is growing environmental degradation coupled with extreme conditions of poverty that increase vulnerability. The development of local capacity and risk management play vital roles in obtaining sustainability of water and sanitation systems as well as for the communities themselves. Unfortunately water may also represent a potential target for terrorist activity or war conflict and a deliberate contamination of water is a potential public health threat. An approach which considers the needs of communities and institutions is particularly important in urban areas affected by armed conflict. Risk management for large rehabilitation projects has to deal with major changes caused by conflict: damaged or destroyed infrastructure, increased population, corrupt or inefficient water utilities, and impoverished communities. Water supply and sanitation are amongst the first considerations in disaster response. The greatest water-borne risk to health in most emergencies is the transmission of faecal pathogens, due to inadequate sanitation, hygiene and protection of water sources. However, some disasters, including those involving damage to chemical and nuclear industrial installations, or involving volcanic activity, may create acute problems from chemical or radiological water pollution. Sanitation includes safe excreta disposal, drainage of wastewater and rainwater, solid waste disposal and vector control. This book is based on the discussions and papers prepared for the NATO Advanced Research Workshop that took place in Ohrid, Macedonia under the auspices of the NATO Security Through Science Programme and addressed problems Risk management of water supply and sanitation systems impaired by operational failures, natural disasters and war conflicts. The main purpose of the workshop was to critically assess the existing knowledge on Risk management of water supply and sanitation systems, with respect to diverse conditions in participating countries, and promote close co-operation among scientists with different professional experience from different countries. The ARW technical program comprised papers on 4 topics, : (a) Vulnerability of Wastewater and Sanitation Systems, (b) Vulnerability of Drinking Water Systems, (c) Emergency response plans, and (d) Case studies from regions affected by Drinking Water System, Wastewater and Sanitation System failures.

This book focuses on threats, especially contaminants, to drinking water and the supply system, especially in municipalities but also in industrial and even residential settings. The safety, security, and suitability landscape can be described as dynamic and complex stemming from necessity and hence culpability due to the emerging threats and risks, vis-a-vis globalization resulting in new forms of contaminants being used due to new technologies. The book provides knowledge and guidance for engineers, scientists, designers, researchers, and students who are involved in water, sustainability, and study of security issues. This book starts out with basics of water usage, current statistics, and an overview ofwater resources. The book then introduces different scenarios of safety and security and areas that researchers need to focus. Following that, the book presents different types of contaminants – inadvertent, intentional, or incidental. The next section presents different methodologies of contamination sensing/detection and remediation strategies as per guidance and standards set globally. The book then concludes with selected chapters on water management, including critical infrastructure that is critical to maintaining safe water supplies to cities and municipalities. Each chapter includes descriptive information for professionals in their respective fields. The breadth of chapters offers insights into how science (physical, natural, and social) and technology can support new developments to manage the complexity resident within the evolving threat and risk landscape.

In 2004, the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality recommended that water suppliers develop and implement "Water Safety Plans" (WSPs) in order to systematically assess and manage risks. Since this time, governments and regulators, water suppliers and practitioners have increasingly embraced this approach, but they have also requested further guidance. This much-anticipated workbook answers this call by describing how to develop and implement a WSP in clear and practical terms. Stepwise advice is provided through 11 learning modules, each representing a key step in the WSP development and implementation process: 1. Assemble the WSP team; 2. Describe the water supply system; 3. Identify hazards and hazardous events and assess the risks; 4. Determine and validate control measures, reassess and prioritise the risks; 5. Develop, implement and maintain an improvement/upgrade plan; 6. Define monitoring of the control measures; 7. Verify the effectiveness of the WSP; 8. Prepare management procedures; 9. Develop supporting programmes; 10. Plan and carry out periodic review of the WSP; 11. Revise the WSP following an incident ; Every Module is divided into three sections: 'Overview', 'Examples and Tools', and 'Case studies'. The overview section provides a brief introduction to the Module, including why it is important and how it fits into the overall WSP development and implementation process. It outlines key activities that should be carried out, lists typical challenges that may be encountered, and summarizes the essential outputs to be produced. The examples and tools section provides resources which could be adapted to support the development and implementation of WSPs. These resources include example tables and checklists, template forms, diagrams, or practical tips to help a WSP team address specific challenges. These are often example outputs and methodologies adapted from recent WSP experiences. Each Module concludes with case studies so the reader can benefit from lessons-learned from real-life experiences. They are intended to make WSP concepts more concrete and to help readers anticipate issues and challenges that may arise. The descriptions were drawn from WSP initiatives in Australia, the Latin American and the Caribbean region (LAC), and the United Kingdom.