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Emergency response planning to reduce the impact of contaminated drinking water during natural disasters

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Abstract

Natural disasters can be devastating to local water supplies affecting millions of people. Disaster recovery plans and water industry collaboration during emergencies protect consumers from contaminated drinking water supplies and help facilitate the repair of public water systems. Prior to an event, utilities and municipalities can use “What if”? scenarios to develop emergency operation, response, and recovery plans designed to reduce the severity of damage and destruction. Government agencies including the EPA are planning ahead to provide temporary supplies of potable water and small drinking water treatment technologies to communities as an integral part of emergency response activities that will ensure clean and safe drinking water.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US EPA Office of Research and Development, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA

    Craig L. Patterson & Jeffrey Q. Adams

Authors
  1. Craig L. Patterson
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  2. Jeffrey Q. Adams
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Correspondence to Craig L. Patterson.

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Patterson, C.L., Adams, J.Q. Emergency response planning to reduce the impact of contaminated drinking water during natural disasters. Front. Earth Sci. 5, 341–349 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-011-0196-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-011-0196-8

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