Abstract:
In recent years, the United States has learned much from natural disasters about risk to infrastructure systems, and now it faces new threats from malevolent attacks and other human-caused sources. The paper provides a comprehensive report on the experience base with water utility disasters and offers guidance for risk management and analysis. It is based on an American Water Works Association Research Foundation project that included a background study, industry interviews, and a workshop. Methods for risk analysis are in limited use by utilities because of a lack of data and lack of training and priority within utilities. Theories have advanced, but they need to be validated and developed further. Other infrastructure systems have characteristics that are similar to water supply, and water utility experience with risk can strengthen them. Risk management in utilities is more complex and far-reaching than current methods handle. For natural hazards, a great deal is known about threats, but less is known ...
