Mekorot’s experience in preparing for emergency situations

1. Mekorot’s experience in preparing for emergency situations Presented by:Mr. Sion CohenV.P. for Planning & Infrastructure DevelopmentMay 2006

2. Our July 2001 “Wakeup Call” • Four tons of Ammonia accidentally flowed into the National Water Carrier • The decision process was flawed and the contamination reached the consumers • The Ministry of Health Water issued a no-use of water • Panic through out the central district

3. The Outcome We had to do something, fast and skip to a higher level that enabled a more effective response

4. Mekorot – Israel’s National Water Company Sources Desalination Water Resources Management Cloud Seeding Reuse water Wells Agriculture, Municipal Sector, Industry and Neighbors ( Jordanians and Palestinians) Sewage Water Drinking Water Brackish Water Sea Water Surface Water Quality Control Systems Water Security Technological Improvements Ground Water Water Quality

5. Mekorot – Israel’s National Water Company Total Assets- 3b US$ AAA rating 600 m US$ revenue 200 m US$ development 2,000 employees

6. Mekorot’s Activities Water Security Water Quality Wells Reuse Control Systems Desalination Water Resources R&D R&D

7. Annual Water Consumption in million m3 (m.c.m.) The National Water Supply Total 808 121 1134 2,063 Based on 2005 figures

8. Main Water Sources • A limited supply of water situated with 4 major sources: • The See of Galilee • The mountain aquifer • The coastal aquifer • Desalination

9. Mekorot – Domestic Consumption million m3 increasing consumption of water.

10. Biosensors for Water Security Dafnia and small fish Elephant Fish

11. The Need Managing and operating correctly during emergency situations is essential to minimize effects

12. Organizational Preparedness • Guidelines and Procedures • Improving crisis management • Training • Exercises

13. Roadmap for Upgrading Emergency and Security Preparedness Work plan for improvement Lessons learnt Surprise exercises Constant Improvement Extensive debriefing Training and workshops at all levels Exercises at all levels Preparing procedures Coordinating the procedures Identifying gaps

14. Important Points for Crisis Management • Implement simple and workable procedures • Use a uniform language within the organization and other agencies • Creating strong cooperation and coordination with all parties

15. Important Points for Crisis Management – cont… • Assimilate the procedures. • Preparing a decision support system that determines whether the information gathered commands an emergency situation and when to shift from the routine to emergency mode. • Deploy situation rooms for crisis control

16. Important Points for Crisis Management – cont… • Provide uniform modes of communication for accurate reporting • Training management on how to arrive at an accurate and reliable situation assessment – “connecting the dots” • Extensive exercises

17. Professional Teamwork Eng. Team Info. center Video Conference Authorities reps. Situation Rooms

18. Situation Rooms Deployment Southern District Northern District Legend Head Office unit district Jordan District Central District

19. Flow Chart for Emergency Situations Operational orders - who, when and where Determining the severity of the event Complementary data collection Managerial Team Back to routine Threshold trigger Initial data assessment Reporting Arriving at situation assessment Verification that operational orders mitigated the problem

20. Grading the Event • All events are graded based on the apparent severity. • The severity grade dictates who manages the event, who to report to, what feedback is required and the resources to be allocated etc.

21. Severity Grade • This is based on a standard table for grading the event. • The grade takes into account: • the number of anticipated people effected, • the level of contamination, • complaints of illness • media involvement • professional assessment of situation • previous historical events at same location • other factors

22. Training • All procedures and guidelines must be learnt by the employees, by way of theoretical and “on-site” training. • Periodic training includes “table top” and field exercises at all levels

23. Points for preparing exercises • Pre-determine the goals and lessons to be learnt. • Investigate the various agencies that will participate in water emergency events, • Prepare several complete scenarios for each exercise. • Assign a silent controller to every participant. • Provide time for a detailed and extended debriefing period. • Preparing a detailed work plan for improvement

24. Added Value • Fifty percent of the goal is achieved by pre-exercise preparation. • A reduction in the number of water quality and water security events has been shown. • Discovering weak points in the system without being in real crisis. • Proper response in times of crisis at all levels • Uniform language between the participants and other agencies

25. Summary and Recommendations • Mekorot has over the past five years upgraded its preparedness several levels • This is been by investing in monitoring systems, DSS models, situation rooms, uniform procedures and guidelines, training and exercises. • Collaboration with other agencies and consumers has risen tremendously.

26. Summary and Recommendations – cont… • This methodology actually works in preparing a large water company. • It is a long process and must be directed with full commitment by top management. • With enough patience it is possible to achieve excellent results.

27. Thank you