CDPH – DDWEMCalifornia Department of Public Health – Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management

Drinking Water Program

“How’s the water? Is it still wet?”

Joseph Crisologo, P.E.Senior Homeland Security Engineer

Outline

• Who we are

• What we do

• Why is Drinking Water a Critical Infrastructure

• Who we work with

• Challenges and Issues

• Questions

CDPH - Drinking Water Program

• Headquarters/Management• Northern California Field Operations Branch• Southern California Field Operations Branch• Technical Programs Branch• Local Primacy Agencies (County Organizations)

We are distributed throughout the State

We also have greater numbers where population is greater

We can call on resources not affected by an event

Assure safe, clean, wholesome and potable water is served reliably and adequately.

• Regulating public water systems – compliance with MCLs – jurisdictional responsibility

• Conduct inspections, issue permits, and implement enforcement proceedings where necessary

• Educate and train – new regulations• Respond to emergencies and coordinate with

partners; help identify and solve challenges

IT’S WHAT WE DO

Critical Infrastructure

• Electricity

• Communications

• Water

• Natural Gas

• Fuel (Gasoline/Diesel)

How long without these?

California Water

• Total PWS in CA – 8000• CWS – 3200

– >3300 Service Connections – 400– 1000 to 3300 – 300– 200 to 999 – 400– 15 to 199 – 2000

• NTNC – 1500• TNC - 2900• Groundwater sources - 16,000

– Wells and springs

• Surface Water - 1,000– Lakes/Reservoirs, Rivers, Canals

Lots of water systems

Lots of smalls and non-communities

Lots of sources

As a utility set, very fractured, varied, and independent

We regulate to the local entity

Even if a hoax, it is still real.

Water System Target RisksWater System Target Risks

Source Water: River, Lake, Well

Transmission Line: Canals, Aqueducts

Treatment Plant: Chemicals & Equipment

Distribution System Large

Medium

Small

Low

Distribution SystemDistribution System Storage Tanks

Storage Reservoir

Pump Station

Service ConnectionsService Connections

Backflow and Cross Connections

Security and Emergency Preparedness and Response – to improve resiliency

– CSTI Table Top Exercise Design Class– Golden Guardian 2008– CAHAN– EWQSK– CERC– CAMAL Net– WBDO Work group– Pandemic Influenza Awareness– Terrorism Awareness– Environmental Health Training for Emergency

Response– Coordination with groups

California Health Alert Network (CAHAN)

• Administrator/Collaborator/Alert license training• Water Labs (CAMAL Net) members are in• County Health are in• Hospitals are going in• PWS to go in• Testing – alerts periodic• Secure documents review• Administrators to manage accounts

It happened/happens/can happen• 6th Century BC – Assyrians, Solon of Athens• Civil War – retreating army vs advancing army• World War II – Japanese biological warfare field trials on

11 Chinese cities• 1941 – Hoover; 1998 – Clinton PDD-63 – ERP• 12/80 – chlordane, outside Pitsburgh• 1985 – Arkansas - Covenant, Sword, Arm of the Lord –

potassium cyanide• 5/00 – Walkerton, Ontario – intentional/unintentional• 1/01, FBI warned U.S. water utilities of a threat from a

“very credible, well funded North African-based terrorist group” to “disrupt water operations in 28 U.S. cities.”

• 1/02 alert from NIPC of Al-Qa’ida interest in water systems, based on software found on computer in Afghanistan owned by person with links to Al-Qa’ida

Emergency Water Quality Sampling Kit (EWQSK)

• Confirm the presence of unknown contaminants introduced to a drinking water system.

• Hazmat personnel can use the kit if an incident poses a risk to onsite personnel.

• Instruct first responders and other participants on the purpose, capabilities and use of the EWQSK.

• Located at district offices• Understand responsibilities in

response

EWQSK

Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)

• “Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Tool Kit” – contains detailed information to help Community

Water Systems maintain effective communication with the public during emergencies.

– complimentary resource to the water system’s emergency response plan

– specifically designed to support writing and implementing a crisis communication plan

• Communication with public and media• Knowing when to communicate during a crisis is

as important as knowing what to communicate. • Crisis Communication Plan

A good Communication Plan helps prevent this.

CAMAL Net

• Consortium of state, federal, and local public water utility laboratories– Public Water System Drinking Water

Laboratories– USEPA Region 9 Laboratory– CA Dept. of Water Resources Laboratory– CDPH Sanitation and Radiation Laboratory

• Patterned after Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN)

• Recognizing laboratory capabilities is a resource.

CAMAL Net

• Laboratory surge capacity is a high priority during water quality emergencies to characterize fate and transport and clearance.

• Provide Mutual Aid assistance to CDPH Sanitation and Radiation Lab to analyze non-WMD public health drinking water samples that are the result of a terrorist attack on a PWS.

Coordination with groups

• WEROC• FBI• ERNIE• IMARC• LEPCs (6 Regions)• MARACs (6 Regions)• OES• TEWGs

• SALES• INFRAGARD• BASIC• DHS• EPO• OHS• Water ISAC• ASDWA• Others

GW & SW SystemStorage Tanks

Storage Reservoir

Pump Station

WTP

Still finding leaks likely due from Northridge Quake

Causes of Water Quality Problems

• Microbiological growth or presence• Turbidity – compromised treatment processes• Compromised distribution system• Unexpected loading of contaminants at the headworks• Flooding• Cross-connections/co-mingling/releases

Other Water Quality Issues

• Low pressure <5 psi

• Dead animals

• Repeated coliform positive samples

• Not able to do emergency chlorination (need portable chlorinators)

• Upset in the operation of treatment plants

• Others

What we will do• Self Assessment-COOP/COG, local offices, call-in, 800 #,

CAHAN, satellite phones• Reporting to the EOCs, REOC, JEOC, SOC – reporting

form• Form assessment teams (for each OA, 5 teams of 2) –

initial/quick, detailed damage• Inspections of water treatment plants, storage facilities• Inspections of watersheds

– Chemical contamination (insecticides, hazardous materials)– Sewage from homes, mains, pumping stations or treatment

plants– Erosion

• Drainage diversions around facilities• Working with Water MAC to prioritize resources• MAC = CDPH, PWS, WARN, OA, LHD, others

What we will do• Conducting water sampling; review/interpret results• Consulting/working with water system operators/staff• Providing technical assistance (Agency Representative or Technical

Reference)• Incident Action Plan to include – restoration of water service• Documenting the effects on water systems through photographs

and reports• Keeping local officials advised of the current drinking water situation• Review plans and specifications for reconstruction projects, and

issue amended permits as needed• PWS in impacted areas, Tier 3, 2 and then 1 assessments• Objective – return to normal operations• Environmental Health Strike Teams – Tier 1 areas

Routes of Resource Requests

CDPH Direct Assistance

CDPH Drinking Water Program (DOC)(our statutory authority)

Technical Advice - Water Quality IssuesAssessments/InspectionsEmergency Water Quality Sampling KitsLab SupportAdditional Technical Support–Other CDPH programs

Regional EmergencyOperation Center

Local/OperationalArea EOC

State EmergencyOperations Center

Supplemental Water supplies Heavy EquipmentContractor SupportEtc.

Resource RequestsSEMSWater

Utility

IncidentOccurs

CDPH - JEOC

Cal WARN

Public Notices

• BWO–Boil Water Order/Notice/Advisory– Standard template and

language– Rolling boil for one minute– Can’t boil? Then chemical

disinfection– Microbial issues

• USWA–DND–Unsafe Water Alert–Do Not Drink– Standard template and

language– Acute contaminants– Alternate sources– Can use for other purposes

• USWA-DNU–Unsafe Water Alert–Do Not Use– Unknown contaminants– Not to be used at all

• Water Shortage• SDWA Notifications

– Tier 1 (Short Term MCLs)– Tier 2 (Long Term MCLs)– Tier 3 (Monitoring &

Reporting)

• Problem Corrected

Who Can IssueWho Can Issue

• CDPH Primacy for Enforcement of SDWACDPH Primacy for Enforcement of SDWA– Health and Safety Code Section 116450Health and Safety Code Section 116450

• CCR 64463.1 and 64465CCR 64463.1 and 64465

– PN Enforced by District EngineersPN Enforced by District Engineers– LPAs for SWS PNLPAs for SWS PN– PWS To Issue NoticePWS To Issue Notice

• CDPH/LPA Will Issue PN if PWS CannotCDPH/LPA Will Issue PN if PWS Cannot– Immediate Public Health HazardImmediate Public Health Hazard

Who Can IssueWho Can Issue

• Public Water SystemsPublic Water Systems– Can Issue Own PNCan Issue Own PN– Order vs Notice/AdvisoryOrder vs Notice/Advisory– Cannot Contact CDPH/LPA and Need to Inform Cannot Contact CDPH/LPA and Need to Inform

PublicPublic– Issue per PWS Emergency Notification PlanIssue per PWS Emergency Notification Plan

Who Can IssueWho Can Issue

• County Health OfficerCounty Health Officer– LPA or EHDLPA or EHD– HSC 101040 – HSC 101040 – Authority to take Preventative Authority to take Preventative

Measures During An Emergency.Measures During An Emergency.– HSC 120175 – HSC 120175 – Health Officers May Take Preventative Health Officers May Take Preventative

Steps to Control the Spread of DiseaseSteps to Control the Spread of Disease..

Guidance - Lifting the BWO

• Corrective Actions Approved by CDPH/LPA– Identify the cause/problem and resolve– Flushing/isolation/disinfection/discharge– Flushing program complete and effective– Pressures restored to normal– All broken pipes have been repaired, disinfected and

tested for bacti– Sewer lines also need to be repaired

Guidance - Lifting the BWO

• Sampling Results Approved by CDPH/LPA• Two sets of clean samples taken 24 hours apart –

representative – bacti quality• Acceptable turbidity levels• Sampling and analysis – coliform, chlorine residual,

parameters• Free chlorine residual > 0.5 mg/L dist sys, inc. extremities• No reports of illnesses – new cases• CDPH DO Receive Results• Prove that the system is clean

• Problem Corrected Notice

Boil Water Notices

Boil water notices must only Boil water notices must only be lifted after the Dept has be lifted after the Dept has given direction to the water given direction to the water

utility to do so. utility to do so.

Lifting a Boil Water Notice

Challenges and Experiences

• Coordination with local health officer and operational areas

• USWA-DND versus DNU

• Different orders issues by different counties

• Understanding why one notice is issued instead of another

Conclusion

• Effects will/could be devastating• Everything is a system with interconnecting and

interdependent components• We have many resources and many ways to

address these challenges• We’ve got a great system and we can only get

better• We need to continue to exercise and learn so

that we can be more resilient and successful

Exercise Considerations

• Your partners and stakeholders

• Your strengths and challenges

• Your policies and procedures

• Your interdependencies (supply/demand side)

• Your customer (internal and external)

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. 

“To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns

Plan, Plan, Plan

Action, Action, Action

Practice, Practice, Practice

Questions?Questions?Clifford L. Bowen, P.E.Clifford L. Bowen, P.E.Senior Homeland Security Senior Homeland Security

EngineerEngineerCDPH – DDWEM - No. Cal.CDPH – DDWEM - No. Cal.(510) 620-3456(510) 620-3456Email: Email:

Clifford.Bowen@cdph.ca.gov

Joseph Crisologo, P.E., R.E.A.Joseph Crisologo, P.E., R.E.A.Senior Homeland Security Senior Homeland Security EngineerEngineerCDPH - DDWEM – So. Cal.CDPH - DDWEM – So. Cal.(818) 551-2046(818) 551-2046Email: Email: Joseph.Crisologo@cdph.ca.gov

Website: Website: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/DDWEM.aspx

Marvin YoungMarvin YoungSenior Homeland Security SpecialistSenior Homeland Security SpecialistCDPH - DDWEM - HQCDPH - DDWEM - HQ(510) 620-3497(510) 620-3497Email: Email: Marvin.Young@cdph.ca.gov