REGIONAL APPROACH TO WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY TRAINING IN NEW ENGLAND

Prior to the devastating events of September 11, 2001, most Americans went about their daily lives with little regard for the fundamental mechanisms that enable us to live comfortably, such as the various infrastructures that provide us with our power, our communications, and our water supply, or convey our wastewater. The terrorist attacks forced us to take a closer look at our water infrastructure because we began to realize just how vulnerable to sabotage they are and, therefore, how vulnerable we are. Damage to any of these sources has the potential to disable an entire community or cripple the economy.

Those of us who are involved with water began collaborating to draw attention to the vulnerabilities of our nation's water infrastructure, while at the same time working to limit those vulnerabilities. Nationally, organizations such as the WEF and the American Water Works Association began working with the US EPA to conduct regional training on water and wastewater infrastructure security. Workshops were provided for wastewater professionals to train staff on the tools and information necessary to ensure effective planning and preparedness. Within the regions, organizations such as NEIWPCC were called upon to bring the national message to the local level through established training networks.