Protecting the Nation's Critical Infrastructure: The Vulnerability of U.S. Water Supply Systems

In: Journal of contingencies and crisis management, Band 8, Heft 2, S. 73-80

Abstract

Terrorism in the United States was not considered a serious threat until the second half of the 1990s. However, recent attacks both at home and abroad have forced government planners to consider the possibility that critical elements of the U.S. infrastructure might in fact be vulnerable to terrorism. The potential for chemical or biological contamination of water supply systems exists along with the possibility that such systems might be sabotaged. This article reviews the threat of biological and chemical compounds in relation to the characteristics of water supply systems. Vulnerability of such systems to terrorist attacks is examined, as well as possible physical and chemical countermeasures that could be applied. A case study is presented of an accidental contamination event that illustrates the difficulty of tracking such events in a drinking water system. It can be concluded that municipal water supplies are vulnerable. However, appropriate physical planning of such systems, including contingency back‐up with separate water lines for emergencies, coupled with proactive monitoring, will significantly increase security in the face of possible terrorist attacks.