Section 18.80.055. Public water system emergency preparedness requirements.

	(a)  The owner of a community water system serving 1,000 or more individuals or a non-transient non-community water system serving 1,000 or more individuals shall  
		(1) complete a security vulnerability assessment;  
		(2) prepare a written emergency response plan; and  
		(3) review and update the emergency response plan every two years.  
	(b)  The owner of a community water system serving fewer than 1,000 individuals, a non-transient non-community water system serving fewer than 1,000 individuals, or a transient non-community water system serving 1,000 or more individuals shall  
		(1) prepare a written emergency priority measures plan; and  
		(2) review and update the emergency priority measures plan every two years.  
	(c)  A security vulnerability assessment by a public water system subject to (a) of this section must  
		(1) consist of an evaluation of the vulnerability of the system to an emergency; the specific risks to be assessed must be based on  
			(A) the system's location, climate exposure, age, size, design and construction, and staff and operation; and  
			(B) external factors, including local history, services, transportation, communication, and activities; and  
		(2) consider potential risks to  
			(A) pipes and constructed conveyances;  
			(B) physical barriers;  
			(C) water collection, pretreatment, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities, including fire hydrants;  
			(D) electronic, computer, and other automated systems;  
			(E) use, storage, and handling of all chemicals;  
			(F) operation and maintenance of the system; and  
			(G) the resiliency and ability of the system to ensure continuity of operations if an emergency causes a disruption.  
	(d)  An emergency response plan for a public water system subject to (a) of this section must  
		(1) be based on the risks identified in a vulnerability assessment as described in (c) of this section;  
		(2) describe the system's immediate response to emergencies, its plans to return to regular service as soon as possible after an emergency, and how drinking water from an alternate water supply will be made available to a system's customers during an emergency;  
		(3) include a record of system-specific information critical to safe operation of the system; this information must be stored in a form that will remain accessible in the event of power loss;  
		(4) set out provisions for loss or inoperability of equipment, including  
			(A) identification of critical system components;  
			(B) an inventory of equipment needs and availability in an emergency, including  
				(i) the location of existing emergency equipment, generators, and spill response materials;  
				(ii) identification of additional emergency equipment needs; and  
				(iii) procedures for obtaining additional services and equipment, including critical spare parts; and  
			(C) a plan for responding to complete or partial power loss;  
		(5) describe the duties and responsibilities of key system personnel in emergencies, including an established chain of command that designates authority and takes into account the possible absence of any given individual;  
		(6) set out an outline of communication pathways among system personnel and between system personnel and non-system personnel who might be expected to respond to an emergency, including the locations of up-to-date emergency contact lists;  
		(7) set out provisions for emergency sampling and testing for the presence of chemical or microbiological contaminants in the water; those provisions must include  
			(A) identification and location of emergency sampling and testing supplies; and  
			(B) procedures for testing and sampling;  
		(8) identify alternate drinking water supplies sufficient to meet the needs of the system's individual customers during an emergency, including  
			(A) a plan to provide an alternate water supply for the duration required to ensure the health and safety of the individuals whom that particular system serves; and  
			(B) procedures for obtaining and distributing water from each identified alternate water supply, including testing and treating the water if needed; and  
		(9) set out a plan for annually training staff in each component of the emergency response plan.  
	(e)  An emergency priority measures plan for a system subject to (b) of this section must  
		(1) comply with (d)(4)(C), (5), (6), and (8) of this section, except that the owner of a transient non-community water system subject to (b) of this section may, in the emergency priority measures plan, elect to terminate service during an emergency instead of identifying alternate water supplies under (d)(8) of this section; and  
		(2) set out a plan for annually training staff in each component of the emergency priority measures plan.  
	(f)  A public water system subject to this section must have, in a place available at all times to its operator, a copy of its current emergency response plan or a copy of its emergency priority measures plan, as applicable.  
	(g)  The owner of a public water system subject to this section shall submit to the department an initial certification of compliance, on a form provided by the department and subject to 18 AAC 80.1900, as follows:  
		(1) for a public water system described in (a) of this section that is in operation on August 20, 2012, no later than 18 months after August 20, 2012, the owner shall certify that the system complies with the requirements of (a)(1) and (2) of this section;  
		(2) for a public water system subject to (b) of this section that is in operation on August 20, 2012, no later than 12 months after August 20, 2012, the owner shall certify that the system complies with the requirements of (b)(1) of this section;  
		(3) for a new public water system subject to (a) of this section that first becomes operational after August 20, 2012, no later than 60 days after receiving its approval to operate under 18 AAC 80.210(i) or (j), whichever comes first, in addition to complying with 18 AAC 80.207(d)(4), the owner shall certify that the system complies with the requirements of (a)(1) and (2) of this section;  
		(4) for a new public water system subject to (b) of this section that first becomes operational after August 20, 2012, no later than 60 days after receiving its approval to operate under 18 AAC 80.210(i) or (j), whichever comes first, in addition to complying with 18 AAC 80.207(d)(4), the owner shall certify that the system complies with the requirements of (b)(1) of this section.  
	(h)  The owner of a public water system subject to this section shall submit to the department, on a form provided by the department and subject to 18 AAC 80.1900, a renewal of its certification of compliance, as set out under (a)(3) or (b)(2) of this section as applicable, no later than 60 days before each biennial anniversary of its initial certification.  
	(i)  Failure to file the initial or renewal certifications required in (g) and (h) of this section is subject to administrative penalties under 18 AAC 80.1200 - 18 AAC 80.1290.  

Authorities

46.03.020;46.03.050;46.03.710;46.03.720

Notes

Reference

18 AAC 80.1220

Authority

AS 46.03.020 AS 46.03.050 AS 46.03.710 AS 46.03.720 ________________________

History

Eff. 8/20/2012, Register 203