Government money lets city look at water supply security

COLUMBUS - Columbus will be the first city in the nation to review the protection of its water supply, using a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. <br> <br> Columbus Water Works was awarded a $115,000 grant from the EPA to enhance the security of the water system. An additional $55,000 grant also was received through the Association of Metropolitan Sewage Agencies, and that money will be used to analyze any security flaws with the city&#39;s wastewater systems. <br> <br> ``It&#39;s an opportunity to do a thorough assessment of our vulnerability to terrorist attacks and to some extent natural disasters,&#39;&#39; said Billy Turner, president of Columbus Water Works. ``It grows out of the Sept. 11, 2001, incidents. Since then, there have been developing technologies to address and improve security around facilities such as water systems.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> One of the worst fears of the government involve a terrorist sneaking in to the water system and contaminating it with loose toxic chemicals, potentially killing everyone who uses public water. <br> <br> Experts have said that poisoning a reservoir would be almost impossible because of the huge amount of chemicals that would be needed. But some officials still prepare for the worst, securing water reservoirs, updating alert systems and installing devices that monitor water quality. <br> <br> ``Our work will serve as a model demonstration to make others know how to assess things on the ground and put them into the model,&#39;&#39; Turner said. <br> <br> The grant program pays for activities at large water systems serving more than 100,000 people, including: <br> <br> Developing a vulnerability assessment to understand where a utility could be damaged in a terrorist attack. <br> <br> Enhancing the existing water works emergency plan. <br> <br> Developing a security enhancements plan.