(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