The American Water Works Association (AWWA, www.awwa.org), in partnership with the WaterISAC (www.waterisac.org), announced that it will provide U.S. member water utilities serving fewer than 50,000 people with an opportunity to test-drive the WaterISAC Pro Internet-based security information system.
WaterISAC is a private, not-for-profit organization authorized by U.S. Congress (www.house.gov) and supported by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov). It was established in 2002 by utilities to provide information necessary to secure water systems and ensure continuous utility operations in the face of hazards. ISAC stands for Information Sharing and Analysis Centers.
Through e-mail and a secure Internet portal, WaterISAC provides drinking water and wastewater utilities with threat alerts, resources on emergency preparedness and management and other information to support utility infrastructure protection efforts. The WaterISAC system includes:
• An e-mail alert system providing notice to subscribers about natural disasters, terrorism threats and cyber-security vulnerabilities;
• Online tools to network directly with colleagues in the United States, Australia and Canada to share knowledge on infrastructure protection;
• A searchable online library of more than 2,000 documents on security and emergency preparedness, best practices guidance and threats;
• Searchable chemical/biological contaminant databases created by subject-matter experts;
• The ability to collaborate securely on special projects with colleagues.
Utilities interested in participating should visit www.waterisac.org. and click on "Subscribe." There they can also sign up for a free webinar and download a brochure about WaterISAC Pro. Questions can be emailed to [email protected].
