CH2M HILL Develops Water Security Standards Under The Guidance Of ASCE, AWWA, And WEF

Denver, CO — CH2M HILL, a global full-service engineering, construction, and operations firm, has developed and released the nation's first physical security standard guidelines for water and wastewater utilities.

Released this past December, the two guideline documents developed under the Water Infrastructure Security Enhancements program will enhance the protection of the American public from potential malevolent acts and other threats by improving the physical security of the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure system.

ANSI compliant Draft Standards for Trial Use were developed as a joint effort between the contractor CH2M HILL and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA), with technical input from the Water Environment Federation (WEF). The project was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. CH2M HILL drafted the document and assisted in the resolution reporting during the ANSI balloting process.

The guidelines will provide drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities with practical information to help implement improved security measures in new and existing facilities. In addition, the guidelines address construction and design risks and describes physical security approaches for detecting or delaying malevolent parties. The Draft Standard for Trial Use will be reviewed and considered for approval as an American National Standard upon completion of a six-month public comment and trail use period.

Raw water supplies, wells, pumping stations, storage tanks, distribution systems, collection systems, water and wastewater treatment plants, and support facilities are all included in the recommendations.

SOURCE: CH2M HILL