Water Services National Training Group

1. Water Services National Training Group 12th Annual Conference 11th September, 2008

2. Water Services National Training Group Training & Development

3. Managing Drinking Water Incidents and Emergencies – are you prepared? Padraic Fogarty Director consulting engineers

4. Outline of Presentation • Background • Approach to Project • Drinking Water Incident Management • Conclusions

5. Background to Project

6. Background • Increase in number of Incidents • Greater variation in Incidents • Increase in Customer Expectations • Need for Incident Management

7. Consultant Team • Ed McCabe – Prior to Mouchel • Scottish Water Emergency Planning Implementation Manager • West of Scotland Water Emergency Planning Manager

8. Scope • All Incidents: • Contamination – whether accidental or deliberate • Interruption – due to failure of the distribution network or a treatment process • All aspects of the drinking water system: • Sources • Treatment • DistributionSystem to the consumer's draw off point • “Water Suppliers" • Water Services Authorities • Group Water Scheme sector

9. Approach to Project

10. Methodology • Research • National • International • Project Workshops – Key Stakeholders • Water Services Authorities • NFGWS • EPA • HSE • Project Review Document

11. Project Review Document • Framework • Terminology • Legal Basis • Regional & National Co-ordination • Drinking Water Incident Manager • Sharing Resources • DBO Operators • Group Scheme Sector • Mitigation Measures • Standards • Consolidation of Circulars • Funding

12. Change in the Water Sector in Ireland • Legislation • Drinking Water Regulations (SI 278 of 2007) • Water Services Act 2007 • Fluoridation Regulations (SI 42 of 2007) • Supervisory Role of the EPA • Proactive role • High profile incidents • Media focus on drinking water quality • Now front page news

13. Preventative Measures Water Safety Plans Scheme Level Source to Tap Reactive Measures Incident Management Water Services Authority Level Framework for Security of Water Supply

14. Role of the EPA • Supervisory role for public water supplies • Issuing Guidance and Directions • General • Specific • Co-ordinating 4 sub-groups on cryptosporidium

15. Role of the HSE • Regulation 9(1) – 2 Steps • WSA to consult with HSE to determine if a drinking water supply constitutes a potential danger to human health • Actions by the WSA to restrict supply and inform consumers are subject to agreement with the HSE • Regulation 9(2) • Issue of a direction is subject to agreement with the HSE

16. Drinking Water Incident Management

17. Terminology • Drinking Water Incident Management (DWIM): • To describe the range of procedures and processes deployed to manage a Drinking Water Incident • Drinking Water Incident Response Plan (DWIRP): • A plan prepared by a water services authority to document the procedures, processes and information to support the management of a Drinking Water Incident

18. Roles and Responsibilities County/City Manager • Overall responsibility for DWIM Director of Services • Responsible for ensuring that the Plan is maintained • Responsible for the decision to escalate an incident such that activation of the Plan is required (in consultation with the HSE if so required) Drinking Water Incident Response Plan Manager • Preparation of the DWIRP • Maintenance of the DWIRP • Co-ordination of resources required to implement the plan • Personnel Training • Roles of Water Services Authority personnel in DWIRP • Testing of the Plan

19. Framework for Liaison with HSE • Agreement on Roles & Responsibilities • Input to Drinking Water Incident Response Plan • Regular Meetings to review • Drinking Water Quality • Response to any Incidents • Co-operation in dealing with Incidents in accordance with the Plan • Procedures for • Notifying HSE • Issuing and withdrawing Boil Notices

20. Managing Drinking Water Incidents • Recovery • Customer Support • Information Management • Resources & Support

21. Project Deliverables 2. Guidance Document 3. Research CD 1. Template

22. Structure of the Template Plan (1) • 1. Policy Statement • 2. Using this Document • 3. Roles and Responsibilities in this Plan • 4. Risk Assessment • 5. Classification of an Incident • 6. Incident Response Teams • 7. Supporting Procedures

23. Structure of the Template Plan (2) • 8. Communications • 9. Site and Event Specific Arrangements and Plans • 10. Preparation of the Incident Report • 11. Training and Rehearsal • 12. Review of the Incident Plan • Appendices: A - E

24. Guidance Document What is its purpose A. To assist in setting up the Drinking Water Incident Response Plan(prompts, guidance) B. To act as a useful reference document for incident management generally (case studies, legislative framework etc.)

25. Training Programme Target Audience • Drinking Water Incident Response Plan Manager • Likely to be middle to senior management level in each local authority • Not necessarily technical, but with a good knowledge of the water services department • Deputy / Acting ‘DWIRP Manager’ • To ensure continuity, as staff changes can lead to problems • Environmental Health Officers

26. Conclusions

27. Conclusions • Need for DWIM • Challenges in implementing DWIM • Resources • Cooperation between WSAs • Resources • Knowledge • Devolved Structures • Consistency in Response • Progress on Training

28. Water Services National Training Group 12th Annual Conference 11th September, 2008