RPTB Overview - Objectives

2. RPTB Overview - Objectives • To provide a framework to identify credible incidents/dismiss hoaxes. • To serve as a Planning Tool that can be adapted to a specific user’s needs • To provide guidance from the time of discovery through remediation and return to normal operation

3. RPTB Overview - Response Guidance Offers guidance on… • Whom to notify • Actions to take • How to conduct a ‘Threat Evaluation’ • How to collect samples • How to analyze samples • How to remediate and recover

4. RPTB Overview - Organization Six modules: 1. Water Utility Planning Guide 2. Contamination Threat Management Guide 3. Site Characterization & Sampling Guide 4. Analytical Guide 5. Public Health Response Guide 6. Remediation and Recovery Guide • Module ‘0’ provides an Overview

5. Module Relationships

6. Potential Users • Drinking water utilities • Laboratories • Emergency responders • State drinking water programs • Technical assistance providers • Public health officials • EPA and other federal agencies • Law enforcement

7. Application of Modules

8. Module 1: Water Utility Planning Guide Planning

9. Module 1: Water Utility Planning Guide • Overview of contamination threats and incidents: • Threat warning sources • Due Diligence – threat response • Preparing for contamination threats: • Updating ERPs • Establish ICS • Develop communication plan • Enhance physical security

10. Warnings of Potential Contamination Security Witness Breach Account Public Health Notification by Notification Perpetrator THREAT WARNING Consumer Notification by Complaint Law Enforcement Unusual Water Notification by Quality News Media

11. Contamination Threat vs. Incident • Contamination threat – an indication that a contaminant may have been introduced (not confirmed). • Contamination incident - the confirmed presence of a harmful substance (requires a response)

13. Module 2:Contamination Threat Management Guide

14. Module 2:Contamination Threat Management Guide Module 2 provides: • A framework for decision-making • A threat evaluation and management process • Descriptions of response actions

15. Threat Evaluation and Management Process • Evaluation of all available information to determine if contamination is: • ‘Possible’ • ‘Credible’ • ‘Confirmed’ • Work with minimal information • Iterative process that is updated as more information becomes available

16. Players in the Threat Management Process • Drinking water utilities (WUERM) • Drinking water primacy agency • Public health officials • Emergency responders • Local law enforcement • FBI

17. Is the Threat ‘Possible’? • A threat is deemed ‘possible’ if the circumstances indicate the opportunity for contamination • One-hour target for ‘possible’ stage

18. Is the Threat ‘Possible’? • Information available at ‘possible’ stage: • Details of the threat warning • If a threat is ‘possible’, potential response actions include: • Isolation and containment • Initiate site characterization and sampling

19. Is the Threat ‘Credible’? • A threat is deemed ‘credible’ if additional information corroborates the threat • 2 - 8 hour target for ‘credible’ stage.

20. Is the Threat ‘Credible’? • Information available at ‘credible’ stage: • Site characterization results. • Information from external resources • If a threat is ‘credible’, potential response actions include: • Public notification • Sample analysis & more site characterization

21. Is the Threat ‘Confirmed’? • A contamination incident is confirmed once conclusive evidence is obtained • May take several days to confirm

22. Confirmation of a threat through: • Results of Sample Analysis: • Advantage: provides definitive evidence • Disadvantage: may ‘miss’ contaminant during sampling or design of analytical approach • Preponderance of Evidence: • Results of site characterization • Assessment by law enforcement • Assessment by public health agencies • Additional factors and information

23. Is the Threat ‘Confirmed’? • Information available at ‘confirmed’ stage: • Results of sample analyses • Additional site characterization • Information from external resources • If a threat is ‘confirmed’, potential response actions include: • Revising of actions taken to protect public • Planning for remediation and recovery

24. Threat Management Process

25. Module 3: Site Characterization and Sampling Guide

26. Module 3: Site Characterization and Sampling Guide • Intended for water utility staff and first responders • Contains procedures for conducting site characterization activities • Implemented at ‘possible’ stage to establish ‘credible’ and ‘confirmed’ threat

27. Site Characterization Procedures • Planning by the WUERM and/or Incident Commander • Implementation by the Site Characterization Team • Site Evaluation • Field safety screening • Rapid field testing of the water • Sample collection

28. Site Characterization Process Five Stages • Customizing the Plan • Approaching the Site • Characterizing the Site • Collecting Samples • Exiting the Site

29. 1. Customizing the Plan • Site Characterization Plan customized based on nature of threat (4 hazard categories) • low, radiological, chemical, and/or biological • Site characterization team assembled based on type of threat and safety needs

30. 2. Approaching the Site • Establishing site zones: • Site perimeter and staging area • Protective action zone where specialized PPE may be required • Conduct field safety screening: • Detect environmental hazards (air & surfaces). • Initial evaluation of site conditions • Determine if it is safe to proceed

31. 3. Characterizing the Site • Repeat field safety screening • Evaluate site conditions: • Signs of intrusion or tampering • General signs of contamination • Indicators of chemical contamination • Rapid field testing of the water: • Additional information for the threat assessment • Tentative identification of contaminants • Determine if special precautions are required for sampling

32. 3. Characterizing the Site – cont’d. • Currently Available Rapid Analytical Assessment Tools: • Acute Toxicity Testing • Rapid Immunoassays • Rapid Enzyme Test • Rapid PCR • Field Deployable GC/MS

33. 3. Characterizing the Site – cont’d. Rapid Analytical Methods • Technology is rapidly improving • Results are only presumptive • These methods are no substitute for standard laboratory analyses

34. 4. Sample Collection • To follow rapid field testing • Samples to be collected and analyzed in accordance with State Primacy Agency/EPA/USGS guidelines

35. 5. Exiting the Site • Initiated upon completion of site characterization • Confirm collection of appropriate samples • Properly document findings • Secure the site • Securing a site may involve multiple steps for higher hazard level sites and/or crime scenes

36. Module 4: Analytical Guide

37. Module 4: Analytical Guide • Intended for planners and labs that may provide support to the water utility during an event • Provides a general approach to the analysis of unknowns in water • Identifies analytical procedures for: • Chemicals • Radionuclides • Pathogens • Not intended as a ‘how to’ lab manual

38. Analytical Approach for Unknown Contaminants

39. Current Laboratory Infrastructure

40. Environmental Chemistry Labs • Labs suited to complete analyses for compliance with the Safe Drinking Water or Clean Water Acts • May require advance notice for analysis

41. Radiochemistry Labs • For analysis of a range of radionuclides • Include EPA, DOE, State and some commercial labs http://www.epa.gov/radiation/programs.htm-er • Federal Radiological Management Center (FRMAC) operated by FEMA http://www.fema.gov/rrr/rep/index.shtm

42. Biotoxin Labs • Currently few labs with this capability • Labs with this capability are listed in the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) http://www.bt.cdc.gov/emcontact/index.asp

43. Chemical Weapons Labs • Chemicals placed on Chemical Weapons Convention (CSC) Schedule 1 • Two labs in US qualified and permitted US Army Edgewood Laboratory Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories • Access through Federal Agencies

44. Microbiological Labs • For analysis of waterborne pathogens • May include hospital, medical, public health and/or environmental microbiology labs • Labs with this capability listed in Laboratory Response Network (LRN) http://www.bt.cdc.gov/emcontact/index.asp

45. Laboratory Response Network (LRN) • Developed by CDC, Association of Public Health Labs and FBI • Designated to handle bioterrorism events • Pathogens • Biotoxins • Composed of City, County, State and Federal Public Health labs http://www.bt.cdc.gov/emcontact/index.asp

46. Screening for Chemical Contaminants

47. Module 5:Public Health Response Guide

48. Module 5:Public Health Response Guide Five Public Health Response Actions: • Plan the public health response • Determine public health consequences • Implement appropriate operational responses  • Implement the public notification strategy • Make available a short term alternate water supply (if necessary)

49. 1. Plan the public health response Pre-Threat Planning: • Integrate Health Dept into Utility ERP • Identify agencies involved and roles • Develop communication strategy • Develop operational/health response plans

50. 2. Determine Public Health Consequences from Incident Post-Threat (contaminant identified) • Assess acute/chronic health effects • Determine exposure routes of concern • Determine stability of contaminant in water • Calculate ability to spread in distribution system