(Insert name) Water Department Emergency Response
Plan
Public Water System Number (PWS#) Community Water System
Contact information:
Superintendent
Water Department/Department of Public Works
Address
Phone
Fax
Email
SYSTEM INFORMATION
4
Distribution System Maps
4
Treatment Plant Plans
4
Schematic of Treatment Processes
4
Water Chemistry Information
4
Staffing
4
PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES
4
Source contamination
4
Process treatment failure(s)
4
Loss of power
4
Transmission main or storage failure(s)
5
Drought
5
Loss of water supply from a source
5
Contamination of water in the distribution system
5
Collapse of a reservoir, reservoir roof, or pump house structure
5
Break in a transmission or distribution line
5
Potential or imminent threat of chemical or microbiological contamination
5
Immediate Action Levels for Water Treatment Plant Chemicals
6
Vandalism or Sabotage
6
SHORTAGE OR LACK OF RESOURCES THAT COULD AFFECT THE OPERATIONS
OF THE SYSTEM
6
Staffing shortages
6
Receipt of notice from a power utility of lengthy power outages
6
Imminent depletion of treatment chemical inventory
6
Any other failure
6
ALTERNATE SOURCES
7
EMERGENCY CONTACTS/NOTIFICATION
7
Directory of Emergency Contacts
7
Special Needs Contact Information
8
Public notification/communication plan
8
DESCRIPTION OF EMERGENCY OPERATION OF ALL SYSTEM COMPONENTS
8
Pumps
8
Generators
8
Chemical Feed Systems
8
Storage Tanks
8
Alarms/Communications
8
Valves
8
Interconnections
8
FLUSHING PLAN
9
SAFETY PROCEDURES
9
Personal Protection Equipment
9
Security Procedures
9
Alarm/Communication Systems
9
Sampling and monitoring procedures (during and after emergency)
9
Disinfecting and Testing
9
Critical System Components
9
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING/EQUIPMENT AVAILABILITY
10
Training Schedule
10
Inventory of Equipment
10
Emergency Response Staffing
10
Mutual Aid/MassWARN
10
System Information
Distribution System Maps
Treatment Plant Plans
Schematic of Treatment Processes
Water Chemistry Information
(that reflects normal system operations)
Staffing
Identify immediate and backup staff and certification
Protocols and Procedures
(specific to the individual water system to respond to emergency situations such as the following)
How exactly would you remove from production? A bulleted list is acceptable
Does system have emergency source? Procedures to get online including specific valves and
disinfection procedures.
In all below List steps taken in any incident, need to refer to call list and operating procedures.
Source contamination
(chemical, biological, or radiological)
Process treatment failure(s)
(example – chemical overfeed)
Potential or imminent threat of an overfeed of an approved drinking water treatment chemical into
the system; need bulleted list of safety procedures, lockouts and flow meter alarms.
Loss of power
(Loss of water supply due to major component failure
or loss of power example -Damage to power supply equipment) Identify generators and transfer
switches, Exercise monthly and include maintenance schedule
Transmission main or storage failure(s)
What are the shutdown components, alarms? Meters, valves etc. What are the steps and checklist.
Drought
Include Water Conservation Bylaw in appendix
Loss of water supply from a source
Contamination of water in the distribution system
(from backflow or other causes) Isolate area, drain, flush system etc. List of backflow devices.
What are the shutdown components, alarms? Meters, valves etc. What are the steps and checklist.
Collapse of a reservoir, reservoir roof, or pump house structure
Redundancy in source, storage. If not, what to do.
Break in a transmission or distribution line
(that could result in a loss of service to customers for more than four hours)
Potential or imminent threat of chemical or microbiological
contamination
(of the water supply over limits specified by the Department’s Office of Research and Standards’
as set forth in the Standards and Guidelines for Contaminants in Massachusetts Drinking Waters.
(available on-line at http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/laws/regulati.htm#chems);
Need bulleted list of safety procedures, calls to customers, reverse 911, raidio, tv, door hangers,
door to door contact
Immediate Action Levels for Water Treatment Plant Chemicals
Indicator Treatment Chemical
High pH
Low pH
Fluoride
Free chlorine
Chlorine dioxide
Immediate Action Level
pH levels > 11
pH levels < 4.5
10 mg/L
25 mg/L
under development
Vandalism or Sabotage
An act of vandalism or sabotage that has the potential to impact or impacts water quality or the
quantity of water available to the system. Operating procedures, calls to police, Mass DEP notified
immediately, isolate source.
2. Description of levels of commonly used chemicals at drinking water treatment facilities, which
if exceeded, could pose an acute risk to public health or safety (See MassDEP’s Office of Research
and Standards’ (ORS) “unreasonable risk to health” (URTH) limits as set forth in the Standards
and Guidelines for Contaminants in Massachusetts Drinking Waters (available on-line at
http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/laws/regulati.htm#chems)
Shortage or lack of resources that could affect the operations
of the system
such as:
Staffing shortages
Due to Sick, pandemics, staff reduced to 40%. Can system run off one individual? Should have mutual aid
agreements/under critical conditions an uncertified operator is ok by MassDEP.
Receipt of notice from a power utility of lengthy power outages
Imminent depletion of treatment chemical inventory
Any other failure
of part or all of the water supply system due to equipment failure, human acts (deliberate or
accidental) or natural or human made disasters.
Alternate Sources
Identification of alternate sources of water supply for use during an emergency and
procedures for bringing such sources on-line. Procedures for implementing any interconnections with
other public water systems and any other arrangements in effect with neighboring communities or other
public water suppliers;
Other Communities, emergency sources, water distribution companies, interconnections, supply
contractors, pressure reducers and portable pumps.
Emergency Contacts/Notification
Directory of Emergency Contacts
In the event that protocols/procedures require supplemental equipment, equipment specifications
and vendor information shall be identified in the plan. These protocols and procedures include the
command and communication structure for the response.
Procedures for notifying the Department and other regulatory agencies, the news media, and
consumers of the emergency and the actions, if any, consumers should take during the emergency,
including the use of personal protective equipment, if necessary, and water-use guidelines or
restrictions;
Procedures for communication, including a clear outline of the lines communication among system
personnel and between the water supplier and local, state and federal officials and the public;
Contacts shall include, at a minimum:
a. Water operator contact(s)
b. MassDEP regional contact(s)
c. MassDEP emergency telephone number
d. MassDPH contact(s)
e. MEMA contact(s)
f. State Police contact(s)
g. A local emergency response team consisting of contacts from the board of health,
public safety (fire and police), and any other appointed/elected officials deemed
appropriate
h. Equipment suppliers/vendors
i. Critical customers (hospitals, schools, elderly housing, process water users)
j. Other government agencies (i.e. DCR–Office of Dam Safety, etc.)
Special Needs Contact Information
Identification and list with contact information of facilities with special needs such as
schools, hospitals, nursing homes and large water users
Public notification/communication plan
including reverse 911 plans, where available, or its equivalent door to door, door hangers ect.
Description of emergency operation of all system components
Identify generators and transfer switches, Exercise monthly and include maintenance schedule.
Pictorial descriptions are best.
Pumps
Generators
Chemical Feed Systems
Storage Tanks
Alarms/Communications
Valves
Interconnections
Flushing Plan
The flushing plan shall include at a minimum the recommended sequence of hydrant openings or
uni-directional flushing plan to flush out contaminants that may be present in the distribution
system.
Safety procedures
Personal Protection Equipment
(including use of personal protection equipment)
Security Procedures
(including securing a scene or building)
Alarm/Communication Systems
Procedures for testing and maintaining all facility communications and alarm systems as necessary
to ensure their proper operation;
Sampling and monitoring procedures (during and after emergency)
Disinfecting and Testing
Procedures for disinfecting and testing the distribution system after an emergency in order to
return it to service;
Critical System Components
Identification of critical system components that must remain in service or be returned to service
quickly;
Emergency Response Training/Equipment Availability
Training Schedule
An annual training program that will be provided to all applicable staff/operators and, where
possible, other local agencies A plan for annually training staff and local partners in emergency
response procedures to ensure that they are familiar with the all emergency procedures, equipment
and systems; and
Need to familiarize staff with formal agenda and meet at least annually to discuss Emergency
Planning.
Any other matter identified by the Department in Massachusetts Drinking Water Guidelines and
Policies for Public Water Supplies, Chapter 12 - Emergency Response Planning Requirements
including Appendix O - Handbook for Water Supply Emergencies.
Inventory of Equipment
An inventory of equipment needs and availability, including the location of existing emergency
equipment, generators and spill response materials, identification of additional emergency
equipment needs, and procedures for obtaining additional services and equipment, including critical
spare parts;
Emergency Response Staffing
A description of the duties and responsibilities of key personnel who will be involved in
emergency response actions, and a procedure for contacting and scheduling staff;
Mutual Aid/MassWARN
Mutual Aid and MassWARN activation/participation procedures