Kansas City, Mo., July 15, 2002 -- Black & Veatch announced recently that more than 1,500 water industry professionals have completed security training offered by the company in association with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The company is also working with Sandia National Laboratories to provide training
designed to help utilities protect their customers and the nation's water supply.
Through the "Counter Terrorism and Security in the Water Industry" seminars, Black & Veatch water system security experts helped utilities nationwide prepare for the possibility of both natural disasters and terrorist acts. Between November 2001 and May 2002, Black & Veatch conducted 16 seminars that focused on vulnerability assessment and the development of emergency response plans.
In accordance with directives developed in response to the attacks of Sept. 11 of last year, water utilities serving more than 100,000 citizens are required to assess their vulnerability to a terrorist attack and submit that assessment to the EPA by March 31, 2003.
Under an agreement with the AWWA Research Foundation, Sandia National Laboratories and the EPA have developed a "Security Risk Assessment Methodology for Water Utilities (RAM-WSM) - Train the Trainer" program that focuses on water utility security. Black & Veatch security experts completed this training and are now certified to lead workshops that provide water and wastewater utilities with a greater understanding of potential new threats, tools for assessing a facility's vulnerability and suggested measures for improved security.
"We were pleased to work with AWWA and to be among the first consulting, engineering and construction companies serving the water sector to be selected for the Sandia program," said Americas Division President Jim Patton. "With many years of security assessment and design, as well as comprehensive water system experience, Black & Veatch was a logical training program participant."
The AWWA and Sandia training programs are just two of the many integrated Black & Veatch security offerings. The company most recently is providing security assessment services for the San Juan Water District in Granite Bay, California. The District is among the first three utilities in the country to receive a water security grant from the EPA for vulnerability assessment.
"Security concerns will continue to evolve in the water industry as more becomes known about detection and prevention of chemical, biological, radiological and cyber attacks. Utilities should prepare to institutionalize security beyond current levels - not because we expect water to be attacked, but because it makes good business sense," said Patton.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch Corporation is a global engineering, construction and consulting company specializing in infrastructure development in the fields of energy, water and information. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch serves its clients with conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, information technology, environmental, security design and consulting, and management consulting services.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., the employee-owned company has more than 90 offices worldwide. Black & Veatch is ranked 80th on the Forbes "500 Largest Private Companies in the U.S." listing for 2001. The company's Web site address is www.bv.com.
The Water Sector provides technology-based solutions to utilities, governments and industries worldwide. Local project managers work with a global team of water and wastewater treatment process experts to address site-specific challenges through a broad range of consulting, study, planning, design, design-build and construction management services.
