Preparing for the Worst: Ten Relatively Easy and Inexpensive things that most Wastewater System Managers can Still do to improve their Disaster Preparedness

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 served as an emergency preparedness wake-up call for many agencies, including wastewater systems. That event provided some new lessons in utility disaster preparedness, but primarily provided reminders of previously-known lessons. Hurricane Katrina and other events have dramatized the potential impact of natural and man-made disasters on utility infrastructure, including wastewater systems. Although much of the subsequent focus has been on water systems and other infrastructure, wastewater systems have also proven to be very vulnerable, with significant service and environmental consequences when they fail. Although many emergency preparedness improvements have been made in recent years, there are a number of additional opportunities for improvement.