The Connector - Summer 2008 - (Page 9)

RWAU Summer 2008 Executive Director’s Comments By Dale Pierson, Rural Water Executive Director ecurity and the appropriate response to emergencies continue to be an issue which all water and wastewater systems should keep in mind. Having personnel aware of what procedures they should follow in an emergency ensures a more rapid infrastructure recovery. It also ensures that personnel feel more comfortable in the emergency and make fewer mistakes. Recently, representatives of the Utah Division of Homeland Security and the Rural Water Association of Utah sat down together to discuss procedures that should be followed when a system emergency is also an apparent crime scene. The challenges in this situation are multiple: S when a system emergency appears to also be a crime scene. They also provide guidance to law enforcement in the same situation. The protocols are printed on a single page and are intended to be posted in facilities and included in emergency response plans. The protocols are available to systems—not individuals—by contacting the Rural Water Association office. The protocols are available in laminated or nonlaminated versions. The next step will be to make certain that law enforcement personnel understand and will follow these protocols. It will be important for system personnel to meet with their Having personnel aware of what procedures they should follow in an emergency ensures a more rapid infrastructure recovery. • Getting the water or wastewater system back on-line and in operation • Protecting critical evidence for law enforcement • Maintaining the proper control by the proper authorities • Protecting public health and safety In order to simplify and clarify the roles of system personnel, law enforcement and other agencies that might be involved, a list of Incident Response Protocols was formulated. The protocols are designed to give easy stepby-step guidance to a system operator Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to explain the protocols. The LEPC meeting is an important venue because, in most cases, not only law enforcement but also fi re departments and HAZMAT personnel are in attendance. In certain incidents, fi re departments and HAZMAT will be directly involved and need to also follow the protocols. This effort represents a continuing relationship that has developed between the Utah Division of Homeland Security and the Rural Water Association of Utah. The needs of water and wastewater systems in 9 regard to internal security, mutual aid and Homeland Security are somewhat unique. Water and wastewater are considered by Homeland Security as part of the Infrastructure Sector. The Infrastructure Sector, which also includes gas service, power, telephone, transportation and a number of other types of infrastructure, is by-and-large made up of privately owned companies. The water and wastewater industry, on the other hand, is mostly made up of small governmental agencies. The recognition that water and wastewater infrastructure is vital to recovery following an incident, the understanding of the unique nature of that infrastructure and the willingness to find innovative ways to respond in emergencies has led to a partnership between our industry and the Department of Homeland Security. This partnership has benefited the formation of the Utah Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network, training operators in the National Emergency Management System and now these protocols. In the future as we move forward with our security efforts, this mutual relationship will continue to be beneficial to all of us. The Connector

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Connector - Summer 2008

The Connector - Summer 2008 Contents President's Message Executive Director's Comments Letters From Readers Legislative Update Rural Water News The Basics Shannon Rasmussen Sanitary Surveys - What to Expect: Part 1 Chuck Jeffs Tank Cleaning 101 Terry Smith Where in Utah?

The Connector - Summer 2008

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