Is Your Water Facility Secure?

Chlorine is vital to the production of safe drinking water. While it is a necessity, chlorine can also be a part of dangerous and illegal activities. In recent months, chlorine has been used in IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) in Iraq.

Chlorine is occasionally stolen for various reasons. There have been five reported break-ins at facilities that store chlorine in California. And in 2006, much closer to home, 40 gallons of granular sodium hypochlorite was stolen in Boone County, Iowa.

Speculation suggests that some cases of stolen chlorine are actually an instance of mistaken identity in which the thieves mistook chlorine cylinders for tanks of anhydrous ammonia (commonly used in the production of methamphetamine). However, it is clear that water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities are not exempt from break-ins by thieves, vandals, and possibly even potential terrorists.

It may be time to take a close look at how secure your facility is and what improvements can be made. One inexpensive security measure is to enlist the assistance of your customers. Utility newsletters, monthly bills, and the yearly Consumer Confidence Report can be used to request that customers be on the look out for suspicious activity or people around the plant, hydrants, wells, and storage facility. Make sure customers know who to contact and that they have the phone number to call if an incident occurs.

Additional security measures are not necessarily expensive, but funding is available through the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund for certain improvements that would help to ensure security. Improvements that are eligible for funding include: fencing, security cameras and lighting, motion detectors, redundancy (systems and power), secure chemical/fuel storage, lab equipment, cross connection control, and installation of security hatches on reservoir/tank access panels and vents.

For more information or questions concerning water security please contact Michael K. Anderson, PE at 515-725-0336 or Michael.anderson@dnr.state.ia.us 

Useful websites:
www.iowadnr.com/watersecurity/index.html
www.epa.gov/safewater