Abstract
This book discusses the inherent vulnerability of urban water and wastewater systems to both manmade and natural threats and disasters including droughts, earthquakes, and terrorist attacks. It contains insights from an internationally recognized group of experts on the problems associated with natural and manmade disasters as well as recommendations on how to anticipate and remediate those disasters. It is well established that natural disasters including major storms, such as hurricanes and flooding, can effect water supply security and integrity. Earthquakes and terrorist attacks have many characteristics in common because they are almost impossible to predict and can cause major devastation and confusion. Terrorism is also a major threat to water security and recent attention has turned to the potential that these attacks have for disrupting urban water supplies. Government planners have been forced to consider the possibility that the nation’s critical infrastructure, including water systems, may in fact be vulnerable to terrorism. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a Homeland Security Strategy (USEPA, 2004). Its intent was to enhance national security and protect human health and the environment. The state of the art in protecting water and wastewater systems from natural and manmade threats is discussed in this book with chapters from US and international experts. A particular area of concern for water systems is cyber security. A report by the US Government Accountability Office has highlighted some of the vulnerabilities associated with possible cyber attacks and some possible solutions are discussed.
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Clark, R.M., Hakim, S., Ostfeld, A. (2011). Securing Water and Wastewater Systems: An Overview. In: Clark, R., Hakim, S., Ostfeld, A. (eds) Handbook of Water and Wastewater Systems Protection. Protecting Critical Infrastructure, vol 2. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0189-6_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0189-6_1
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