Water Critical Infrastructure Security and Its Dependencies

David Michael Birkett

doi:10.15664/jtr.1289

Abstract

Water critical infrastructure is considered one of the most important CI on a global basis. Water CI has been consistently targeted across history since 3000 BC, with a significant increase in those attacks documented in the early 2010s. The aim of this paper is to review security and dependencies of water CI in relation to terrorism or adverse human intervention. In particular, the paper analyses water as a ‘soft’ target, and provides an insight into terrorist attack planning and perceived threat levels. Keywords: Water critical infrastructure; security; terrorist attack; dependency; water contamination

Highlights

Water and wastewater critical infrastructure (CI) is considered essential for contemporary social human existence (Cohen, 2010, Lee, 2009b)
5 Conclusion This paper reviewed two major areas of water and wastewater critical infrastructure, first, its dependencies including links to other critical infrastructures, and second, its security in relation to external adverse human interventions
Regarding security of water CI, the main focus is on attack planning considering its typical components and perceived threat levels on water CI as a ‘soft’ target

Summary

Introduction

Water and wastewater critical infrastructure (CI) (further referred to only as water CI) is considered essential for contemporary social human existence (Cohen, 2010, Lee, 2009b). Modern society relies heavily on the unseen operation of the removal and disposal of human waste through the wastewater systems as a form of essential CI that ensures the separation of treated drinking water and faecal contamination from human waste. This separation reduces the potential for community outbreaks of waterborne diseases, as occurred in the cholera outbreak in London prior to 1857 (Snow, 1857). In recent times, there is an observed increased level of interest in attacks on water CI displayed by Jihadist terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda and others This interest is evident from documents and computer records retrieved by Western Intelligence Agencies and Law Enforcement (Kroll, 2012b) (Brockett, 2015). Recorded examples from Australia in 1984 (Noble and Schrembi, 1984) and in 2012 (ABC, 2003) are two separate incidents connected with a terrorist act. associated with threats to poison water supplies (Cooper, 2013)

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Discussion

Conclusion