Municipal Water Distribution System Security Study: Recommendations for Science and Technology Investments

Abstract

This article highlights a recent study of municipal water distribution system security to determine potential threats and protective mitigation measures. The project includes three areas of analysis: chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) attacks as well as internal sabotage; state of the art security monitoring and decontamination technologies and processes; and, technological and operational research and development gaps that should be addressed. The article also discusses decontamination of all components of a distribution system, and the economic impact of an attack including the cost of recovery.