1. Decontamination Preparedness and Assessment Strategy
Water Security Division
ASDWA Webinar Series for the State Security Coordinators
August 23, 2017

2. Outline
Explain the purpose and benefits of the Decontamination Preparedness and Assessment Strategy Provide Tool Overview State- EPA Partnerships

3. Think About this….
Do utilities in your state incorporate the remediation process in their Emergency Response Plan (ERP)?

4. Decontamination Preparedness and Assessment Strategy (DPAS)
Designed as a interactive preparedness tool
Provides information on the remediation process of a contamination event at a water utility
Provides an efficient process for utilities to address the complexities of remediation

5. DPAS Includes:
Information on water and wastewater treatment and infrastructure decontamination
Worksheets, checklists and other resources to aid the remediation process
Information on key statutes and regulations relevant to remediation.
The principal roles and responsibilities to increase understanding of the Incident Command System (ICS)

6. DPAS - Benefits for States and Utilities
Explains the steps involved in the remediation process
Provides utilities with a printable strategy, including actions that can be taken prior to an event to increase preparedness
Provides a list of resources and other tools available to help prepare for an event
Provides an overview of statutes and regulations applicable to contamination incidents
Provides an overview of important public health and environmental safety considerations during an remediation event.

7. Overview of Decontamination Preparedness and Assessment Strategy (DPAS)

8. Confirmed Contamination
Remediation
Recovery
DPAS Overview
 Characterize the Impact of the Contamination
 Determine Clearance Goals
 Develop Characterization Strategy
 Implement Characterization Strategy
 Select Treatment and Decontamination Methods
 Develop Treatment and Decontamination Strategy
 Implement Water Treatment Strategy
 Implement Infrastructure Decontamination Strategy
 Develop and Implement the Clearance Strategy
 Complete Extensive Evaluation of Strategy Results
 Finalize Remediation Activities
 Complete Incident Report and Perform After-Action Review
2. Decontamination
1. Characterization
3. Clearance

9. Key Decisions Characterization Phase
What is the extent of the contamination?
Is treatment needed?
For example, the flowchart can be used prior to an event to become familiar with the process and the type of information that is needed and during an event to help the utility make key decisions.

10. Characterization Phase
1. Characterize the Impact of the Contamination
2. Determine Clearance Goals
3. Develop Characterization Strategy
4. Implement Characterization Strategy

11. Decision Framework Characterization Phase
Proceed to Clearance Phase
Proceed to Decontamination Phase
4. Is natural attenuation adequate to eliminate the public health impacts based on exposure assessment, water and infrastructure impacted, contaminant information, and effectiveness of public notification? NO
YES
The DPAS provides Decision Frameworks for each of the phases that that will help a utility to plan for an event.

12. Confirmed Contamination
Remediation
Recovery
DPAS Overview
 Characterize the Impact of the Contamination
 Determine Clearance Goals
 Develop Characterization Strategy
 Implement Characterization Strategy
 Select Treatment and Decontamination Methods
 Develop Treatment and Decontamination Strategy
 Implement Water Treatment Strategy
 Implement Infrastructure Decontamination Strategy
 Develop and Implement the Clearance Strategy
 Complete Extensive Evaluation of Strategy Results
 Finalize Remediation Activities
 Complete Incident Report and Perform After-Action Review
2. Decontamination
1. Characterization
3. Clearance

13. Key Decisions Decontamination Phase
What treatment should be implemented?
Is infrastructure decontamination necessary?
Is remediation verification criteria attained?

14. Decontamination Phase
1. Identify Options and Select Water or Wastewater Treatment Methods
2. Develop Water or Wastewater Treatment Strategy
3. Implement Water or Wastewater Treatment Strategy
4. Develop and Implement Infrastructure Decontamination Strategy

15. Decision Framework Decontamination Phase
Proceed to Clearance Phase
Remediation verification criteria attained?
YES
Are clearance goals met?
YES NO
4. Develop and Implement Infrastructure Decontamination Strategy

16. Confirmed Contamination
Remediation
Recovery
DPAS Overview
 Characterize the Impact of the Contamination
 Determine Clearance Goals
 Develop Characterization Strategy
 Implement Characterization Strategy
 Select Treatment and Decontamination Methods
 Develop Treatment and Decontamination Strategy
 Implement Water Treatment Strategy
 Implement Infrastructure Decontamination Strategy
 Develop and Implement the Clearance Strategy
 Complete Extensive Evaluation of Strategy Results
 Finalize Remediation Activities
 Complete Incident Report and Perform After-Action Review
2. Decontamination
1. Characterization
3. Clearance

17. Key Decisions Clearance Phase Have the clearance goals been met?
What incident reports need to be completed and records retained?

18. Clearance Phase 1. Develop and Implement the Clearance Strategy
2. Evaluate Results and Decide if the System Has Been Cleared
3. Develop and Implement Final Remediation Activities
4. Complete Incident Report and Perform After-Action Review

19. Decision Framework Clearance Phase
Have the clearance goals been met?
Decision
“not cleared”
Could the Clearance Goals be too strict?
YES NO
Are there other concerns, such as aesthetic issues or public perception?
Decision “cleared”

20. ADDITIONAL FEATURES of DPAS

21. Incident Command System Structure

22. Preparedness Checklist

23. Decision-Making Framework Checklist

24. Case Studies
Objective is to highlight challenges and the approaches utilities take during the remediation process.
Case Study 1
Drinking water plant affected
Highlight the complexity of the determination of clearance goals and agency (e.g., CDC and the Public Health Department) roles
Case Study 2
Wastewater treatment plant affected
Highlight the benefits of developing an SAP

25. Scenario Demo

26. Scenario
A utility confirmed gasoline contamination within the finished water storage tank located within the distribution system.
Odor in water and consumer complaints led to identification of gasoline contamination at the 200,000 gallon ground level finished water storage tank.
Confirmed high concentration in storage tank and lower concentration in distribution system

30. State- EPA Partnership

31. States- What Can you Do?
Promote the strategy to utilities/partners
Provide support to utilities as they develop plans
e.g., Standard Operating Procedures, Waste Management Plan, Sampling Analysis Plan, Remediation Action Plan, etc.
Identify additional resources that can aid utilities during the remediation process
Identify trainings & opportunities for utilities
Encourage and participate in emergency preparedness training and exercises
Provide continuing education credits (CEUs)

32. EPA’s Next Steps Finalize Strategy – Tentative Fall Publication
Partner with states and EPA regions to promote the strategy
Partner with states and other stakeholders (NRWA, RCAP, AWWA Sections, etc.) to assist small/ medium size utilities
Conduct DPAS training

33. Contact Information
For more information on the Decontamination Strategy, please contact: Marissa Lynch, U.S. EPA Environmental Engineer Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Phone: (202) Veronica Aponte-Morales, U.S. EPA ORISE Research Fellow - Environmental Engineer Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Phone: (202)