The following article was submitted by Khin-Cho Thaung of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Water Security Division.

Water Sector Performance Measurement Metrics:  A Valuable Opportunity for Small and Rural Utilities
Small and rural utilities are invited to participate in the 2009 Water Sector Security Measures process, and take advantage of a free 12-month subscription to WaterISAC Pro. The measures process will allow small and rural utilities to report on their recent progress towards implementing protective programs and “all-hazards” preparedness measures at their utility. This second annual measures process will provide an updated baseline of information regarding vital preparedness metrics for all members of the water sector – information useful in comparing practices over time and between different size utilities.

Introduction
Drinking water and wastewater utilities across the United States, particularly in small and rural communities, are universally recognized as providing services fundamental to the well-being of all citizens and the community at large. In recent years, the water sector has taken steps to ensure that vital water services are not interrupted as a result of natural disasters, accidents or intentional acts by individuals seeking to harm a community. Community water systems, in concert with water sector associations, and local, state, and federal agencies, have taken a series of steps to assess and reduce vulnerabilities and improve emergency response capability. Activities have included preparation of vulnerability assessments (VAs) and emergency response plans (ERPs), and adoption of practices that support programs to improve the ability of these community water systems to respond to and recover from incidents more quickly and effectively.

To better assess the progress toward achieving protective goals and “all-hazards” preparedness, the water sector has implemented a nationwide performance measurement metrics effort. The first annual measures process was completed in 2008. The 2009 measures process is now underway, and the water sector is particularly interested in increasing the number of small and rural utilities participating in this year’s effort. Water sector associations supporting the 2009 measures initiative include the American Water Works Association (AWWA), National Rural Water Association (NRWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), and several other organizations.

Utilities wishing to participate in the 2009 metrics process can access it through a secure link on the WaterISAC website (http://www.waterisac.org). Utilities of all sizes are being invited to participate. Responses are due by October 30, 2009.

Benefits of Participating for Small and Rural Utilities
Participating in the measures process takes just a short time (20-30 minutes); a small investment of your time will result in several benefits. Your utility can:

• Compare Your Utility’s Progress to that of Comparable Utilities. While the online measures process ensures that all utilities’ responses are reported anonymously, the final report – which will be made available to all participants – allows utilities to compare themselves with utilities of similar size, and with larger or smaller utilities. Utilities can also evaluate their protective programs in relation to those of the water sector, as a whole.
  
  
• Facilitate an Informal Review of Your Infrastructure Protective Programs. The measures process prompts participants to answer questions about implementation of the elements of an active and effective protective program. For small and rural utilities, going through the measures process essentially constitutes a “free” professional review of protective plans and programs. Questions prompt utilities to consider actions they can take to improve preparedness and resiliency in the short-term or over the long-term.
  
  
• Receive a Free, 12-Month Subscription to WaterISAC Pro. The introductory, or “basic,” WaterISAC service is free to all utilities. WaterISAC, which is administering the 2009 performance measurement metrics process, is currently offering a free, one-year subscription to its premium service, WaterISAC Pro, a service which normally costs hundreds of dollars per year. WaterISAC Pro delivers an expanded range of services, including details on pandemic flu preparedness, law enforcement response, water system incident response and recovery, and sampling for unknown contaminants in drinking water. WaterISAC Pro also gives users access to vulnerability assessment tools, peer networking, and reference databases, among other resources. All utilities serving fewer than 50,000 people are eligible to take advantage of this offer. Utilities are not required to complete the measures process to receive a free WaterISAC Pro subscription, but because the measures process is administered through WaterISAC’s website, it is convenient for utilities to complete the measures process and sign up for WaterISAC Pro at the same time.

Metrics Process Benefits the Entire Water Sector
By participating in the 2009 metrics effort, small and rural utilities also will be supporting the entire water sector advance its progress on water protective programs. Among the benefits of the performance measurement metrics process for the entire water sector are:

• Informing Legislators, Regulators, and Public and Private Sector Decision-Makers about the Status of Water Sector Security and Emergency Preparedness. As with the 2008 results, which were made available to the sector earlier this year, the 2009 results will help those responsible for planning and budgeting for drinking water and wastewater systems security and preparedness needs to make decisions based on the best available data.  Legislators, agency heads, and water industry associations will be better able to advocate for the funding or resources required to address the critical needs that are identified by the results of this effort.
  
  
• Capturing the Most Accurate Picture of the Water Sector’s Security and Preparedness Status. The results of the metrics process are representative of the entire sector when there is a high level of participation. Conversely, if there is a low participation rate or uneven reporting across different parts of the water sector, not all critical needs and resources may be identified. In addition, more complete results lead to more robust baseline data, allowing for a more accurate assessment of yearly progress as the annual performance measurement metrics process continues.

How to Participate in the 2009 Metrics Process
Utilities can participate in the 2009 performance measurement metrics process through a secure online reporting tool on the WaterISAC Web site. Go to http://www.waterisac.org and look for the notice about participating in the 2009 Water Sector Metrics Initiative. Click on the hypertext for the 2009 Water Sector Metrics Reporting Tool. After reading the short introduction, you can click on the “Begin Reporting” button to answer the 22 questions in the process. Remember that all responses are anonymous, and therefore completely confidential. Everyone is encouraged to participate.

WaterISAC provides on-line support as well as a toll-free number for those who may have questions as they go through the measurement metrics process.

Remember to complete and submit your responses by October 30.

How to Sign Up for WaterISAC Pro
To sign up for your free, 12-month subscription to WaterISAC Pro, click on the “Subscribe” button under the WaterISAC Pro logo on the WaterISAC home page (http://www.waterisac.org).  Complete the six-step registration process. When you get to Step 5 – Payment – you will notice that the charge amount will be $0.00. It will take two to five business days to receive your user name and password for your free 12-month subscription.

Conclusion
Drinking water and wastewater utilities and supporting agencies and associations continue to make steady progress toward ensuring greater security and resiliency for the water sector. The second annual sector-wide security metrics process, now underway, represents a vital opportunity for small and rural water utilities to assess their security status, gain valuable insight, and support the continued progress by the entire sector. Results of the 2009 metrics process are expected to be available to participants in early 2010.

For More Information
If you have any questions or would like additional information about the Water Sector Metrics process and the opportunities for small and rural utilities, please contact Khin-Cho Thaung at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 202-564-4667 or Thaung.Khin-Cho@epa.gov; or contact Aaron Levy at WaterISAC at Levy@waterisac.org.