Purpose
Develop a program to determine the safety and integrity of critical infrastructure components of the water storage and transmission systems in California. The program will establish a baseline of information and calculations at preselected areas to be used for comparative analysis following a major seismic event to determine if that event caused damage to the system or its components.
Background
Protecting the water infrastructure in California is critical to the continued operation of all communities. It begins at the source in lakes, rivers and reservoirs and continues through the transmission system of pipelines and aqueducts and canals.
Three years ago, February of 2017, the Orville Dam reached a critical point of failure and threatened the communities located along the Feather River. For years it was thought that earthquakes were the main concern of the 650 dams the state believes could be deadly in the event of failure. However, the Orville Dam was the result of extreme rainfall amounts that tested the dam’s integrity.
In California earthquakes remain the most likely cause of damage to the water systems. However, other Natural Disasters, Acts of Terrorism and System Failures must continue to be at the forefront of planning and preparedness efforts.
America’s Water Infrastructure Act
America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA) is a federal law that requires Risk and Resiliency Assessments for water infrastructure throughout the country. AWIA became law on October 23, 2018. Section 2013 of AWIA includes newly enacted requirements for community water systems serving more than 3,300 people. These utilities must:
- Conduct a Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA)
- Prepare or revise an Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
The utility must consider all potentially critical components of the water system, including:
- Pipes and constructed conveyances
- Physical barriers
- Source water
- Water collection and intake
- Pretreatment, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities
- Electronic, computer, or other automated systems
Genesis of Approach
The Defense Department has been using aerial reconnaissance systems in providing advanced and real time assessments of military operations. The combinations of manned and unmanned aircraft, Lidar, Vidar and Radar systems combined with high resolution imaging, sophisticated analytical software and ground control capability make it possible to determine landscape characteristics in precise detail. Using baseline data, the operators can determine minute changes in the landscape for use in strategic and tactical operation decision making.
This same technology and system operation are directly applicable to the detection of changes in the critical components of the water system.