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Wastewater Facilities: Experts' Views on How Federal Funds Should Be Spent to Improve Security

GAO-05-165 Published: Jan 31, 2005. Publicly Released: Mar 02, 2005.
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Highlights

Since the events of September 11, 2001, the security of the nation's drinking water and wastewater infrastructure has received increased attention from Congress and the executive branch. Wastewater facilities in the United States provide essential services to residential, commercial, and industrial users by collecting and treating wastewater and discharging it into receiving waters. These facilities, however, may possess certain characteristics that terrorists could exploit either to impair the wastewater treatment process or to damage surrounding communities and infrastructure. GAO was asked to obtain experts' views on (1) the key security-related vulnerabilities affecting the nation's wastewater systems, (2) the activities the federal government should support to improve wastewater security, and (3) the criteria that should be used to determine how any federal funds are allocated to improve security, and the best methods to distribute these funds. GAO conducted a systematic, Web-based survey of 50 nationally recognized experts to seek consensus on these key wastewater security issues. EPA expressed general agreement with the report, citing its value as the agency works with its partners to better secure the nation's critical wastewater infrastructure.

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Automated security systemsCounterterrorismFacility securityFederal fundsTerroristsFunds managementHomeland securityNational defense operationsPotable waterTerrorismWastewaterWastewater managementWastewater treatmentWater treatmentWastewater treatment plants