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Information Sharing
 The exchange of information between water utilities and public and private sector organizations is vital to the safety of the nation's water supply. EPA promotes information sharing between the water sector and such groups as environmental professionals and scientists, law enforcement and public health agencies, the intelligence community, and technical assistance providers. Through such exchange, water systems can obtain up-to-date information on current technologies in water security, accurately assess their vulnerabilities to terrorist acts, and work cooperatively with public health officials, first responders, and law enforcement officials to respond effectively in the event of an emergency.
- 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.
- Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC)
 - WaterISAC is a service developed to provide America's drinking water and wastewater systems with a source of information about water system security and with a secure Web-based environment for early warning of potential threats. Relying on information gathered from federal intelligence, law enforcement, public health, and environmental agencies, and from utility security incident reports, WaterISAC analysts produce and disseminate physical and cyber security information to the water sector.
WaterISAC was established by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, with support from EPA and guidance from other national water organizations. Its information and tools provide an important link between the water sector and such agencies. In addition, WaterISAC provides a variety of resources to help utilities complete and continually improve the vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans required by law for many water systems.
- EPA Environmental Laboratory Compendium - This compendium is a database of nationwide environmental laboratories available to water utilities and to federal and state agencies. The database contains each laboratory's specific capabilities to analyze chemical and biological analytes as well as chemical warfare, bioterrorism, and radiochemical agents. It was developed as a tool to quickly identify laboratories with capabilities to support incident-specific response and recovery. The compendium is intended to assist water utilities and federal and state agencies in responding to contamination threats, terrorist attacks, or natural disasters. To access the database, those interested must first register and receive a reply.
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