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Drinking Water Security & Emergency Preparedness
National Information
Working closely with the state drinking water and wastewater programs, the EPA mid-Atlantic office implements a security and emergency preparedness program in support of the Water Sector Specific Plan (PDF) (134 pp, 2.8MB, About PDF).
On this page:
- Training and staff preparedness
- Collaboration/partnerships
- Facility specific progress
- Water security initiative - contaminant warning system
Training and Staff Preparedness: The EPA mid-Atlantic region plans to implement a comprehensive internal water training program in order to ensure that EPA personnel and our contractors are well equipped, trained, and practiced to respond quickly and effectively to an event which impacts drinking water or wastewater facilities.
- will foster a response network with other federal agencies, states, and locals
- will continue coordination efforts in the National Capital Region (Washington, DC and the surrounding counties and independent cities in Maryland and Virginia)
- will continue a high level of collaboration with the water sector partners to educate, to raise awareness of available resources and training, and to encourage protective actions across the water sector
- EPA mid-Atlantic staff are available to participate in exercises with others - contact Patti Kay Wisniewski (wisniewski.patti-kay@epa.gov).
Mid-Atlantic WARNS:
Specific emphasis will be placed on the Water and Wastewater Agency Response Networks (WARNs) 
.
- Pennsylvania WARN
- Other mid-Atlantic states are not operational at this time
Facility Specific Progress: Will support and promote the "10 Features of an Active and Effective Protective Program" for the water sector and encourage risk management strategies to protect against and mitigate the effects of natural or manmade events on critical infrastructure and key resources (formerly known as the "14 Features of an Active and Effective Security Program").
EPA encourages all utilities to complete Incident Command System training on-line. The courses to be considered are: ICS 100 & 200 level, NIMS 700 and NRP 800 courses.
The mid-Atlantic region is supporting the effort to develop measures to gauge the sector’s progress in improving security and preparedness.Water Security Initiative: The mid-Atlantic Region will promote the concept of a contaminant warning system with large water systems and continue to support the utilities undertaking these warning systems.
