National Rural Water Association
2915 S. 13th Street, Duncan, OK 73533
(580) 252-0629   FAX (580) 255-4476





Dear Rural and Small Community Water Leaders:

Rural water is collaborating with most all of the major national water organizations to conduct this survey to provide federal policymakers with the some initial data on the level of protection of hazard materials (specifically gaseous chlorine) in U.S. water and wastewater supplies. Your peers on the National Rural Water Association Board of Directors have endorsed this initiative to assist in the effort to ensure federal policy is crafted in the best interest of rural and small communities.

See announcement of this initiative from the major national water organizations

Congress has inquired to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland on threat to the public of gaseous chlorine used for water treatment. Currently, there is no identifiable assessment of local security data to answer this inquiry, which could lead policymakers to believe that a new federal regulatory program is necessary. Numerous Congressmen and Senators have proposed new federal regulations to require that water suppliers change their treatment methods (disinfection) to federally preferred treatment methods that are considered safer (more details of this movement in Congress).

Rural water has taken the position that: the decision on which disinfection process to use should remain a local decision, that gaseous chlorine should be available where it is safely protected and necessary for public health protection, and that communities should move to the safest treatment option that ensures adequate public health protection.

We have also urged the federal government to prioritize assistance to small communities to ensure local adoption of the most protective security plans possible (rural water statement to DHS).

Congressional and international attention continues to focus on events and threats of gas chlorine at water and waste water utilities (recent news articles). We are encouraging all utilities to participate in this short survey to evaluate the current state of security measures that have been adopted to protect your chemical/gaseous chlorine storage and treatment sites. This is the first step in a series of rural water efforts that are in the planning stages to ensure communities retain the choice to use or not use gaseous chlorine as a disinfectant. If your community determines that you need security assistance through completing this survey, rural water will immediately provide assistance to help your utility become more protective or evaluate disinfection alternatives if necessary.

Sincerely,

Ed Thomas
Senior Environmental Engineer

Printable Version, but please be aware that this printable version will not allow you to submit your responses.

State Survey Count
MT 110
MN 101
MS 101
TN 86
FL 67
Top 5 States


Name :
System Name :
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Question Response
1. What type of utility do you operate?
Check all that apply.		 Drinking water utility supplied by surface water
Drinking water utility supplied by ground water
Drinking water utility supplied by GWUDI
Wastewater utility

2. What population size does your utility serve? > 100,001
50,001 - 100,000
10,001 - 50,000
3,301 - 10,000
501 - 3,300
1 - 500

3. Have you evaluated your disinfection methods considering water quality, public health, and security issues? Yes No

4. Do you use gaseous chlorine as a disinfectant? Yes No

5. What size chlorine canisters do you use?
Check all that apply.		 150lb cylinder
1 ton container
Tanker
Rail
      a. What is the max number of canisters you store on site? 50+
21 - 50
15 - 20
10 - 14
5 - 9
3 - 4
1 - 2

6. Is air scrubbing equpment in place to mitigate potential chlorine gas releases? Yes No

7. Does your facility have a secured perimeter? Yes No
      a. Fence? Yes No
      b. Vehicle Gate? Yes No
      c. Guard? Yes No

8. Does your facility have the ability to monitor the perimeter? Yes No
      a. Routine perimeter inspection? Yes No
      b. Remote sensors? Yes No
      c. Video surveillance? Yes No
      d. Guard with access control protocol? Yes No

9. Are hazardous materials, such as gaseous chlorine, stored in a hardened building? Yes No
      a. Concrete/block building? Yes No
      b. Locked doors? Yes No
      c. Sensor alarmed doors? Yes No
      d. Video surveillance? Yes No

10. Is access to hazardous materials, such as gaseous chlorine, limited to authorized personnel? Yes No
      a. Keyed locks? Yes No
      b. Key card? Yes No
      c. Key card & PIN code? Yes No
      d. Biometrics? Yes No

11. Have delivery protocols been established for hazardous materials to mitigate potential for tampering? Yes No
      a. Vendor verification and delivery schedule? Yes No
      b. Sealed containers? Yes No
      c. Testing/sample as appropriate? Yes No
      d. Police escort? Yes No

12. Are hazardous materials used in treatment controlled and monitored using SCADA or other system? Yes No

13. Does your emergency response plan (ERP) include hazardous materials release and/or associated security incident, such as theft? Yes No

14. Are utility personnel provided OSHA training for handling hazardous materials? Yes No

15. Do you exercise your ERP? Yes No

16. Does your utility perform background checks? Yes No
      a. Employees? Yes No
      b. Contractors? Yes No
      c. Vendors? Yes No

17. Do you have protocol to enhance protective measures during period of elevated threats? Yes No

18. If an incident occurs, do you have protocols for reporting? Yes No
      a. Law enforcement? Yes No
      b. Fire/Hazmat? Yes No
      c. State Primacy Agency? Yes No
      d. WaterISAC? Yes No

19. Who makes you aware of and communicates with you about security concerns? Rural Water Training
Rural Water On Site Assistance
EPA
State
DHS
20. Who has provided you with useful security information? Consultants
State
EPA
Rural Water

21. Have you received any grants from DHS or EPA to help increase the security of your facility? Yes No

22. Is the annual Consumer Confidence Report an understandable way to inform the public on the safety of your water? Yes No

23. Would you support modifying the content of the annual Consumer Confidence Report to improve communication with the public? Yes No

24. Have you received any assistance to enhance security to your utility from the US EPA? Yes No

25. Have you received any assistance to enhance security to your utility from the US DHS? Yes No

26. Would you like to have your contact information included with this survey?

If you choose to provide your contact information with the survey responses, your information WILL NOT be shared. It will only be used by Rural Water to keep you updated on the issue, to offer you assistance, and to make you aware of the (soon to be completed) Rural Water Security Model For Gaseous Chlorine Suppliers. 		Yes No

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