The objective of the "Water Infrastructure Surety" project is to develop measures to reduce the risks and mitigate the consequences of terrorist or other criminal attacks on the nation's water supply, treatment, and distribution systems. Assessment tools are developed and being implemented in water utility facilities. The assessment tools stem from a performance-based vulnerability assessment methodology, initially developed by Sandia, to support the national nuclear security mission. It has since been modified to evaluate the vulnerability to terrorist attack of government buildings, air force bases, nuclear power plants, nuclear processing facilities, prisons, and federal dams. In general, assessment of the vulnerability of their water infrastructure consists of three major steps: detect, delay, and respond. The first step is to determine how well the system detects a problem, which involves surveying all security and monitoring features. The second one is to measure delay capabilities, in an effort to determine how well the system can stop undesired events. The final step is to measure response capabilities - determining the capacity of private guard forces, and local, state, and federal authorities to respond.

Collaboration with Jeffrey J. Danneels and Ray E. Finley

SNL News Release on Water Infrastructure Surety

"Terrorism: Are America's Water Resources and Environment at Risk?"
(Congressional testimony by J. Danneels, 10/10/2001)