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Security Enhancements, Research and Technology
About PDF Files
 EPA works with other federal agencies (e.g. the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FBI, and DOD) and water sector organizations (e.g. Water Environment Research Foundation) to improve information on technologies and conduct research for water sector security. The information below is intended to help water utilities and other agencies to understand and use available scientific information and technologies to detect contaminants, improve physical facility security, develop and use monitoring protocols and techniques, and ensure treatment effectiveness.
- Water Security Research and Technical Support Action Plan (Action Plan) [PDF - 1,116 KB - 56 pp] - EPA's Office of Research and Development and Office of Water developed the Action Plan which was peer reviewed by the National Research Council. This publication presents results of
collaborative efforts between EPA and other government agencies, the water industry, public health organizations, and the emergency response community to identify critical research and technical support needs for protecting drinking and wastewater infrastructures. The Action Plan identifies projects in the areas of physical and cyber infrastructure protection; contaminant identification; monitoring and analysis;
treatment, decontamination, and disposal; contingency planning; infrastructure interdependencies; and risk assessment and communication. It provides a snapshot in time. Revisions to the Action Plan will be
made periodically based on input from others dealing with drinking water and wastewater security.
- Security Product Guides - EPA continues to develop a series of individual Security Product Guides to assist water treatment plant operators and utility managers in reducing risks from, and providing protection against, possible natural disasters and intentional terrorist attacks. The guides provide information on a variety of products available to enhance physical security. A recent update provides eight new and three updated individual Security Product Guides.
This work-in-progress will be updated regularly to ensure that the most recent information on security technologies is available. Users should check back frequently for the latest updates.
A hard copy of the Security Product Guide published spring 2004 (EPA Document Number 817-B-04-001) may be ordered by calling EPA's National Service Center for Environmental Publications at (800) 490-9198 or ordering online.
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Standardized Analytical Methods for Use During Homeland Security Events [PDF - 580 KB - 90 pp] - EPA's Homeland Security Research Center, in conjunction with EPA's Laboratory and Capability Committee, has developed a list of Standardized Analytical Methods (SAM) to be used by environmental laboratories in analyzing biological and chemical samples associated with threats to homeland security. SAM provides a standard by which to measure specific types of contamination that may be associated with future terrorist attacks. Ultimately, these procedures will be vitally important in assisting state and local government laboratories that are preparing to analyze samples associated with homeland security events.
- National Drinking Water Advisory Council's (NDWAC) Water Security Working Group (WSWG) - Established by law to provide practical and independent advice, consultation, and recommendations to EPA on the activities, functions, and policies related to the Safe Drinking Water Act. In order to provide expert advice on best security practices and policies for the water sector, the Water Security Division proposed the formation of the Water Security Working Group (WSWG). For additional information, contact Marc Santora at 202-564-1597. On February 27, 2004, the Council established and charged the working group to:
- Identify, compile, and characterize best security practices and policies for drinking water and wastewater utilities and provide an approach for considering and adopting these practices and policies at a utility level.
- Consider mechanisms to provide recognition and incentives that facilitate a broad and receptive response among the water sector to implement these best security practices and policies, and make recommendations as appropriate.
- Consider mechanisms to measure the extent of implementation of these best security practices and policies, identify the impediments of their implementation, and make recommendations as appropriate.
- EPA's National Homeland Security Research Center - The Agency's Office of Research and Development officially established the National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) in February, 2003. The Research Center oversees three major research areas: water security, rapid risk assessment, and safe buildings. The Research Center's Water Security Team contributes by conducting applied research and then reporting on ways to better secure the nation's water systems from threats and attacks. The Team is producing analytical tools and procedures, technology evaluations, models and methodologies, decontamination techniques, technical resource guides and protocols, and risk assessment methods. All of these products are for use by EPA's key water infrastructure customers--water uility operators, public health officials, and emergency and follow-up responders.
- Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program - The Water Security Division is working with the Office of Research and Development to support verification of water security technologies.
- During 2003, 6 cyanide detection and eight rapid toxicity detection technologies were verified.
- In 2004, immunoassay test kits and rapid polymerase chain reaction (PRC) technologies will be verified using similar type threat agents.
The Environmental Technology Verification Program is also initiating an effort to verify detection and decontamination technologies for safe buildings.
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