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1393

Beyond the ERP: Effective Programs for Water System Emergency Response

2.0

Drinking Water and Wastewater

American Water Works Association - PA Section

Melanie Greene

melanie@paawwa.org

717-774-8870 Ext.

Partner Website

Now that water and wastewater systems have updated their emergency response plans, what's the next step? This course is designed to give operators and management alike an organized method of analyzing their ERP for practical application and also provide training guidance to test the effectiveness of the plan. Based on US EPA and PA DEP guidance, it has been recommended that water and wastewater systems fully review and practice their ERP so that it can be effectively implemented in a crisis situation. This course categorizes the steps needed to evaluate the plan, test it and then revise it accordingly. It stresses the importance of having all levels of personnel involved so that everyone understands their role in an emergency situation. The course also includes a mini-tabletop exercise to illustrate the lessons that can be learned from practicing the plan and how this leads to a more streamlined and functional plan. The course recommends that water and wastewater personnel also attend a full-scale tabletop exercise training approved by PA DEP

Basic thru Advanced

* Synopsis of EPA's Protocol Toolbox * Response to chemical contamination * Response to biological contamination * Radioactive threat to water supplies * Example event matrix * Example events * Emergency program development * Consider system demand * Example failure impact schedule * Consider tiered response levels * Example response template * Conduct a detailed Gap Analysis * Conduct tabletop exercises * Conduct a full-scale exercise * Full scale exercise participants * Mini-tabletop exercise involving the attendees * Assessment Q&A based on the decisions made during the execise * Recommendations for improvement

Water and wastewater operators, supervisors, and management

Classroom