A seminar focusing on anti-bioterrorism training is being held today in Houston. The goal is to help define and correct vulnerabilities found in the area’s water systems.
Harris County has about 600 water systems. Most are interconnected, and some are separate. But each one, at each point, could be a potential target for terrorism.
Experts assert that a potential terrorist likely would not attempt to put a chemical in the water system; there would be too much water and the chemical would only become diluted to the point of ineffectiveness.
The bigger threat would be to the water system plants and the workers.
So the Harris County Public Health Department planned today’s seminar for all 600 water suppliers. They are going to learn about their own threat level and vulnerability, and how to prepare against it.
American Water Works Association’s Ronda Harris is one of two people in Texas who is allowed to train people on counter-bioterrorism.
AWWA is providing the tools to help develop their own program and help improve their old program for bioterrorism.
After the Public Health Security and Bio-terrorism Act, which passed immediately after 9-11, all public utilities were required to determine any type of risk of attack and how counteract it.
Source: www.news24houston.com
