Water & Wastewater. Mary Lasky October 31, 2017

Transcription

1 Water & Wastewater Mary Lasky October 31, 2017

2 Water is Vital Water and wastewater are taken for granted We believing that the faucet will turn on and the toilet will flush. That is until a disaster. 2

3 Water -- In Puerto Rico on 10/13/17 A boil water advisory remains island wide 63% of Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) clients have drinking water service 36% are without service from the utility system Wastewater of 51 PRASA wastewater treatment plants are out of service 31 are operating on generators/alternate power sources 387 sanitary pump stations are overflowing sewage due to lack of power, malfunctioning power generator or pumping problems

4 Lessons Learned from Hurricane Sandy Lack of electric power for water & waste water systems continued for days: Generators started to break down (most generators are not made for continuous of days/weeks) Competition for generators increased Some emergency managers did not understand the need for water systems to have generators

5 Lessons Learned from Hurricane Sandy Fuel was a major issue As it is/was for during recent hurricanes: Harvey, Irma, and Maria 11 Billion gallons of untreated sewage flowed into: rivers, bays, canals, and city streets (public health issue!)

6 Other Water Issues Remember Flint, Michigan Harvey (8/26) boil water, more than 11 million liters of water needed Irma -- boil water, more than 4.6 million liters of water distributed

7 Wastewater Interdependencies Diagram Created By John Jackson

8 National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) Critical Infrastructure Dependence on Water and Potential Function Degradation following Loss of Water Services

9 Facts about Water & Wastewater Systems 160,000 water systems in U.S. 11,000 private system serving small cities 92% of us get water from 410 large systems Just-in-time inventory for fuel, chemicals and generators Too costly to own their own generator

10 Facts about Water & Wastewater Systems Many systems do not have own generator and rely on the Corp of Engineers to provide them. Corp of Engineers has 30 generators in each of 25 locations across the U.S. FEMA has 400 generators in 10 areas

11 If Disaster, Water & Wastewater Needs Maintenance of the systems Fuel for keeping systems and generators going Chemicals for purifying water & dealing with wastewater If there is a generator, need skilled people Install & Maintain + Parts

12 In Times of Disaster Competition among many critical infrastructures for resources To keep people in homes, must have water & wastewater systems operational If people are in shelters, must have water & wastewater systems operational

13 In Times of Disaster Without water there could be a Tipping Point Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said that loss of water threatens lives and he urged Keep the water on Water must have a high priority for fuel, generators, etc.

14 In Times of Disaster Ted Koppel in Lights Out (2015) In the case of a power grid going down urging people to stay in their homes may be exactly the right thing to do leaving routes open for resupply convoys. Ted Koppel, Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath, New York: Crown Publishers, 2015, p. 115.

15 What Can Be Done During an Emergency? Typically if no power, people use less water No washing cloths No dishwasher A water mitigation strategy Just enough water to sustain most of the population Without fully energizing the water system

16 What Can Be Done During an Emergency? Choices are -- Full, Reduced (20%) or No Service Keep water for emergencies and not potable (people treat their drinking water) Fires Sanitation Hospitals Military

17 What Can Be Planned Now? Water rationing a tool in the tool box California in their water crisis Rain Barrels Chemical toilets Christ Church, New Zealand after earthquake

18 Being Prepared Water systems could have their own generator They could make part of their own electric power via a microgrid (EMP protected) Cyber issues protect the Industrial Control Systems/SCADA

19 North American Regional Interconnections Source: North American Electric Reliability Corporation, July 2012.

20 Why Are We Concerned? Created by George Baker

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22 Purpose of Powering Through Prepare for a long-term wide spread electric grid failure Weeks Months or even a year

23 Key Recommendations about Water Water and Wastewater Designate as the highest priority for: Fuel Generators Encourage citizens to have water treatment capabilities People shelter in their own homes no where to flee/evacuate

24 National Guard Headquarters 2017

25 Resilient Islands Community Areas Urban or Rural Areas Business Parks Universities/Colleges Hospital Complexes Faith-based

26 Other Important Recommendations Ensure individual and household preparedness Establish EMP Protected Microgrids Create Resilient Islands Encourage actions by Governors Control interstate highways Ration food Set priorities for fuel

27 Questions? Mary Lasky