Operators of small water utilities facing mounting homeland security challenges can tap a wealth of knowledge and resources at a workshop on July 28 at LCRA's McKinney Roughs Nature Park.

The one-day workshop focuses on helping small water systems deal with homeland security concerns, plus improving the capacity of these small utilities to manage issues such as rate setting and economic planning.

Security issues loom large for small water utility systems, especially in the wake of the the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorism attacks. Since then, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has required small utilities to improve security capabilities, said Ric Jensen, assistant research scientist at the Texas A&M's Texas Water Resources Institute, which is sponsoring the event along with the Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

"Addressing homeland security threats is one of the top issues small and rural water utilities face," Jensen said. These security concerns are one of the reasons the project coordinators received grant funding from the EPA and the Southeastern Regional Small Public Water Systems Technical Assistance Center (SE-TAC) to host the workshop.

The workshop will outline real-world threats facing small water systems, strategies small water systems can take be aware of such threats, and actions they can take if these threats develop.

"Obviously, our training is for people who work with small water systems, but anyone who has an interest in homeland security issues, or who is served by a rural water system, may want to attend," Jensen said.

FBI Special Agent J.P. Riordan will speak about incidents involving homeland security and a system to alert water system operators about near-term threats, Jensen said.

Other speakers and topics include:

• Karen Tuttle of the Texas Engineering Extension Service will discuss a security self-assessment tool water utility operators can use;
• David McIntyre of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security will outline homeland security resources at Texas A&M University that can benefit water system operators;
• Judy Rogers of TCEQ will give an update on the recently passed Senate Bill 9, which among other things is designed to provide a stronger defense against attempts to taint public drinking water by requiring water utility operators to immediately notify TCEQ of unauthorized entries or thefts.

The workshop costs $20, and includes lunch. For more information and to register, see the Texas Resources Institute's workshop Web site. You can also contact Ric Jensen at (979) 845-8571 or rwjensen@ag.tamu.edu.