Annual Conference October 2011

Review of Response to Exceptional Review of Response to Exceptional Severe Weather Events of 2010/11Severe Weather Events of 2010/11

– Drinking Water Aspects – Lessons – Drinking Water Aspects – Lessons learnedlearned

Peter O’Reilly,Peter O’Reilly,

Senior EngineerSenior Engineer

Fingal Co Co & WSTGFingal Co Co & WSTG

Weather Summary Dec 2010Weather Summary Dec 2010

Lowest day & night time temperatures Lowest day & night time temperatures ever recorded in Irelandever recorded in Ireland

Fast thaw over 36 hours, typically:Fast thaw over 36 hours, typically:

from -15from -15oo C or lower on night of 24 C or lower on night of 24thth Dec. Dec.

to +10to +10oo C or higher at midday on 26 C or higher at midday on 26thth Dec. Dec. Thaw well established across the country Thaw well established across the country

by 28by 28thth Dec. Dec.

Initial period of low temperatures:Initial period of low temperatures:

– 22– 22ndnd Nov. 2010, for 33 consecutive days, ending 25 Nov. 2010, for 33 consecutive days, ending 25thth Dec. 2010 Dec. 2010

Temperature ranged from 0 ºC to –15 ºCTemperature ranged from 0 ºC to –15 ºC

50mm to 100mm snow fell on morning of 3050mm to 100mm snow fell on morning of 30thth Nov. 2010 Nov. 2010

Westmeath Climate Conditions

Summary of Westmeath Climate Conditions

Weather Event

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

18

/11

/10

21

/11

/10

24

/11

/10

27

/11

/10

30

/11

/10

03

/12

/10

06

/12

/10

09

/12

/10

12

/12

/10

15

/12

/10

18

/12

/10

21

/12

/10

24

/12

/10

27

/12

/10

30

/12

/10

02

/01

/11

05

/01

/11

08

/01

/11

11

/01

/11

Date (22nd Nov. 2010 – 9th Jan. 2011)

Te

mp

era

ture

0C

Rainfall (mm)Max TempMin Tempground min Temp

Raw Water TemperaturesRaw Water Temperatures Raw water temperatures fell from 6.3 ºC to 0.7 ºC over the periodRaw water temperatures fell from 6.3 ºC to 0.7 ºC over the period

Period of ThawPeriod of Freezing

Effects of temperature riseEffects of temperature rise

Service Pipe BurstsService Pipe Bursts Control Unit BurstsControl Unit Bursts

Elements of ResponseElements of Response

Call centresCall centres Communications - local radio stations Communications - local radio stations

/newspapers/websites/newspapers/websites Alternative supplies – tankers/standpipesAlternative supplies – tankers/standpipes Leak detection & repairLeak detection & repair Increased drinking water productionIncreased drinking water production Pressure reductions/shut-offsPressure reductions/shut-offs

Resources (DCC)Resources (DCC)

Staff redeployedStaff redeployed Fire ServiceFire Service Civil Defence – vulnerable, elderly, disabled Civil Defence – vulnerable, elderly, disabled Hiring tankers and equipmentHiring tankers and equipment

Used info in DWIRPUsed info in DWIRP• Lists of equipment, service providersLists of equipment, service providers• List of suitable staff for specific rolesList of suitable staff for specific roles• Contacts for special customersContacts for special customers

ExamplesExamples

Welfare FacilitiesWelfare Facilities

Stock of stand pipes deployed in Areas

Athlone: 14

Coole: 6

Kilbeggan: 17

Mullingar: 20

Standpipes were given to local Residents Associations to operate at agreed times – this arrangement worked well

Effect of Temperature rise on supply Effect of Temperature rise on supply systemssystems

CommunicationsCommunications

UpdatesUpdates• Website & Aertel, daily/hourlyWebsite & Aertel, daily/hourly• e-mails to Councillors & area offices & e-mails to Councillors & area offices &

other LA’sother LA’s• improvement: update as early as improvement: update as early as

possiblepossible

Informed customer servicesInformed customer services

DWIRP Map – Mullingar Town Independent Valve Closures to Extend Storage

CommunicationsCommunications

Website and Twitter updated on an hourly basis Website and Twitter updated on an hourly basis during the day with time of updateduring the day with time of update

Website and Twitter updated after hoursWebsite and Twitter updated after hours

Aertel updated on same basisAertel updated on same basis

Updates to all media outletsUpdates to all media outlets

Senior personnel available for radio and TV Senior personnel available for radio and TV updates each dayupdates each day

Communications 2Communications 2

Map of water supply zones & table of shutoffsMap of water supply zones & table of shutoffs

Problem areas, tanker locations, special water Problem areas, tanker locations, special water deliveriesdeliveries

List of questions for customer servicesList of questions for customer services

List of special/vulnerable customersList of special/vulnerable customers

REPORT ON THE REVIEW OF THE RESPONSEREPORT ON THE REVIEW OF THE RESPONSETO EXCEPTIONAL SEVERE WEATHER EVENTSTO EXCEPTIONAL SEVERE WEATHER EVENTSOF 2009 – 2010 OF 2009 – 2010 by National Directorate for Fire and Emergency by National Directorate for Fire and Emergency ManagementManagement

There should be a review of Critical Infrastructure There should be a review of Critical Infrastructure Protection in the energy and communications Protection in the energy and communications sectors to ensure appropriate resilience in these sectors to ensure appropriate resilience in these services;services;

Lessons learned from Jan. 2010Lessons learned from Jan. 2010

Preparations for thawPreparations for thaw

• 505 person days training on leak detection in 505 person days training on leak detection in 20102010

• Night-time restrictions from early Dec. to ensure Night-time restrictions from early Dec. to ensure reservoirs were fullreservoirs were full

• Early warnings to consumers from 20Early warnings to consumers from 20thth Dec. Dec.• Staff on call over holiday periodStaff on call over holiday period• Communications with emergency management Communications with emergency management

e-mail addresse-mail address

Athlone Seminar 1Athlone Seminar 1

Staff welfare Staff welfare • rostering, too many overtiredrostering, too many overtired• drafting in staff from other areas,drafting in staff from other areas,• contracting plumbers (on Call)contracting plumbers (on Call)

Call centresCall centres • many crashed, possibility of regional call centresmany crashed, possibility of regional call centres

Met EireannMet Eireann • get onto alert listget onto alert list

water treatmentwater treatment• Adequate stock of chemicalsAdequate stock of chemicals• Maintaining access, salt/grit stock, 4 wheel drivesMaintaining access, salt/grit stock, 4 wheel drives

Athlone 2Athlone 2

Communication Communication • use web based mapping for informing publicuse web based mapping for informing public

Leaflets and informationLeaflets and information • should be standardised and agreed with HSE should be standardised and agreed with HSE

(there are templates in DWIRP)(there are templates in DWIRP)

Ghost/unfinished estates, estates not in charge Ghost/unfinished estates, estates not in charge

Shared services, need protocol with neighbouring Shared services, need protocol with neighbouring WSAsWSAs

Athlone 3Athlone 3

DWIRPs DWIRPs • complete where unfinished complete where unfinished • cover other emergencies viz. flooding, cover other emergencies viz. flooding,

contamination, droughtcontamination, drought

DWIRP regional focusDWIRP regional focus • use Regional Training Centres & Technical use Regional Training Centres & Technical

Committees Committees • workshops workshops

Relevant workshops Relevant workshops • e.g. use of Social Media for emergency e.g. use of Social Media for emergency

communicationcommunication

Have you a DWIRP ?Have you a DWIRP ?

DWIRP manager and deputy DWIRP manager and deputy Training - WSTG, in-houseTraining - WSTG, in-house DWIRP prepared, notify EPADWIRP prepared, notify EPA Protocols with HSEProtocols with HSE Liaison with Group Schemes & DBO contractorsLiaison with Group Schemes & DBO contractors Resources and EquipmentResources and Equipment Liaison with neighbouring WSAsLiaison with neighbouring WSAs In-house training, exercises, reviewsIn-house training, exercises, reviews

Scope of DWIRPScope of DWIRP

All Incidents:All Incidents:• ContaminationContamination• InterruptionInterruption• Severe weatherSevere weather

All aspects of the drinking water system: All aspects of the drinking water system: • Sources Sources • TreatmentTreatment• Distribution System to the consumer's draw off point. Distribution System to the consumer's draw off point.

““Water Suppliers" Water Suppliers" • Water Services Authorities Water Services Authorities • Group Water Scheme sector.Group Water Scheme sector.

DEHLGDEHLG L4/2009L4/2009

DWIRP ManagerDWIRP Manager Implement asapImplement asap Co-ordinate with neighbouring WSAsCo-ordinate with neighbouring WSAs Protocols established with HSEProtocols established with HSE Sharing resources with other WSAsSharing resources with other WSAs In-house trainingIn-house training Situation exercisesSituation exercises

EPAEPA WSAs must prepare a written DWIRP WSAs must prepare a written DWIRP Appoint senior persons as manager/ deputy Appoint senior persons as manager/ deputy manager of DWIRP who should:manager of DWIRP who should:

be be fully familiar with WSA and operationsfully familiar with WSA and operations prepare and maintain DWIRP in consultation with other prepare and maintain DWIRP in consultation with other staffstaff circulate as controlled documentcirculate as controlled document co-ordinate the resources neededco-ordinate the resources needed organise training staff of WSA on the DWIRPorganise training staff of WSA on the DWIRP rehearsing and testing the DWIRPrehearsing and testing the DWIRP reviewing and modifying the DWIRP following incidentsreviewing and modifying the DWIRP following incidents

May need additional Subsidiary May need additional Subsidiary PlansPlans

Site specific plansSite specific plans

Severe WeatherSevere Weather

Chemical releaseChemical release

Industrial actionIndustrial action

DWIRP – have you reviewed & updated?DWIRP – have you reviewed & updated?

All incidents not just severe weatherAll incidents not just severe weather

Appendices – continuous processAppendices – continuous process

PlanPlan Post-exercisePost-exercise Post-incident Post-incident Annual ReviewAnnual Review Full review as appropriateFull review as appropriate

DWIRP reviewDWIRP review

Team structure - roles & responsibilitiesTeam structure - roles & responsibilities Procedures & forms for communicationsProcedures & forms for communications Lists of equipment suppliersLists of equipment suppliers Contact details for suppliers, other Local Contact details for suppliers, other Local

AuthoritiesAuthorities Support - staff redeployment, Civil Support - staff redeployment, Civil

DefenceDefence Lists of special customersLists of special customers

• HospitalsHospitals• Nursing homesNursing homes• SchoolsSchools

DWIRP Risk Assessment - exampleDWIRP Risk Assessment - example

VV(very high);(very high); • Reduction of source due to droughtReduction of source due to drought

H H (high);(high); • Chemical pollution of sourceChemical pollution of source• Waterworks breakdown for more than 5 hoursWaterworks breakdown for more than 5 hours• Total pump failure for more than 5 hoursTotal pump failure for more than 5 hours• Loss of electricity for more than 5 hoursLoss of electricity for more than 5 hours• Microbial exceedance in supplyMicrobial exceedance in supply• Cryptosporidium in supplyCryptosporidium in supply• Major bursts on trunk mainsMajor bursts on trunk mains• Flooding of properties/ roads due to burst mainFlooding of properties/ roads due to burst main

Draft DWIRP Incident Log Date incident declared; Brief summary of incident; Date Detailed History of Events Outcome/

Decision

Summary if incident (scale, severity etc); Liaison with External Agencies: Communications Used; Lessons learned: Closeout date: DWIRP Number (e.g. GCC-DWIRP-2010-Amb01); Signed: _____________ Frank Clancy, A/SEE, Water Services

Draft DWIRP Incident Log Date incident declared; not declared yet – still able to deal with using routines Brief summary of incident; Low River levels following dry spell and weir gates being open during part of this period. Date Events report Outcome/

Decision 2/9/2010 Problems caused by low river levels, we could not treat

more than 1,200 m^3/ hour approx. Tonabrocky and Clifton Hill very low. Outages in Barna, Moycullen

Contact Coco. for more water, Contact OPW re closing gates Notice to local radio

3/9/2010 Meeting with Co. Co in morning to discuss. GCC agreed to throttle back City flow later in evening. Co. Co providing as much as possible to Coolagh

Throttle back City flow late evening Notice to local radio for weekend

4, 5/9/2010

Kept pumping as much as possible. Co. Co. had a problem on 5th and reduced our supply. This caused us problems overnight and we lost all the gains.

6/9/2010 Low reservoir levels in Clifton Hill and Coolagh so pumping to both sides. River level improved so increased plant throughput. Increase from 150m^3/h to 300m^3/h from Luimneagh allowed us pump more to West. Comms down all day due to Eircom problem Meeting with Co. Co. in afternoon and agreed joint statement for the websites Restored comms to Clifton Hill and Tonabrocky in the evening

Contact with Co. Co. (cannot give us more until couple of days) Joint statement on County and City websites

7/9/2010 Reservoir levels all low but production up to 1,900 and import from Luimneagh back uo to circa 500m^3/h. River level improving

Joint statement on County and City websites

8/9/2010 Reservoirs steadied overnight and river level up above 0.8 for first time in c 2 weeks. OPW opened gates in morning. Phone and email to OPW asking them to maintain river level, gates closed and level returned after dinner

Email to OPW Throttle Tonabrocky in evening to help bring up level overnight

9/9/2010 Clifton Hill and Tonabrocky up to circa 2.3m in morning

10/9/2010 Clifton Hill and Tonabrocky up to nearly 3m in morning

Have you a DWIRP Quick Guide ?Have you a DWIRP Quick Guide ?

““DWIRP light”DWIRP light”

Bullet pointsBullet points

One page “quick guide” for staff – relevant infoOne page “quick guide” for staff – relevant info

Telephone list Telephone list • Critical staffCritical staff• SuppliersSuppliers• EquipmentEquipment• HSE, EPA (if nec), etcHSE, EPA (if nec), etc

DWIRP Quick GuideDWIRP Quick Guide

Quick Guide for DWIRP – Galway City Council (Rev 1 May 2011)

Major Burst, large water outage etc. 1. Phone calls between COW, EE, SEE with initial information. 2. Email to customer services, press officer, DOS, website, Fire Station, admin staff answering

phones at waterworks etc.[Distribution List]. Include brief notice that there is a problem, it is being investigated by water staff and overview of area affected.

3. Above information to website person and local press. 4. Start DWIRP log with initial events. 5. Follow up email later when more information is known on extent of problem, likely

duration, works being done etc. Do this even if it is very similar information to previous. Relevant section of DWIRP;

Appendix A.7, B1; Protocols for outages (planned and emergency) including FAX template for local radio. Appendix A.9; Incident Log Sheet Appendix B.2; List of sensitive customers Appendix C.2; Group Water Scheme details Appendix D.1; Guidance on deployment of water tankers

DWIRP – Have you reviewed your DWIRP – Have you reviewed your communications plan?communications plan?

What do people want?What do people want?• Clear information – No jargonClear information – No jargon• Whats happenedWhats happened• Why it has happenedWhy it has happened• When will it be sortedWhen will it be sorted• That someone is in chargeThat someone is in charge

Advance circulation of Information Leaflet on Advance circulation of Information Leaflet on necessary steps for protection of their water necessary steps for protection of their water supplysupply

EmergenciesEmergencies

Are suddenAre sudden Stretch resourcesStretch resources Break continuity/confidence in serviceBreak continuity/confidence in service Need different levels of response as Need different levels of response as

they vary in size and complexitythey vary in size and complexity Can involve a large number of Can involve a large number of

stakeholdersstakeholders

Staff requirementsStaff requirements

ExperiencedExperienced

CompetentCompetent

Well trainedWell trained

Ready and available to respondReady and available to respond

ResourcesResources

Next (WSTG)Next (WSTG)

Raise issues with CCMARaise issues with CCMA

WorkshopsWorkshops• Completion of DWIRPsCompletion of DWIRPs• Review preparedness Review preparedness • Create networks & exchange experienceCreate networks & exchange experience• Protocols for sharing resourcesProtocols for sharing resources

DWIRP reviewDWIRP review• Apply experience learned to dateApply experience learned to date

ConclusionsConclusions

Emergencies happenEmergencies happen

Be preparedBe prepared

Have a plan - DWIRPHave a plan - DWIRP

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Gerry Galvin, Principal Advisor, DECLGGerry Galvin, Principal Advisor, DECLG Laura Walsh, Dublin City CoLaura Walsh, Dublin City Co Morgan Cox & Greg Duggan, Morgan Cox & Greg Duggan,

Westmeath Co CoWestmeath Co Co Frank Clancy, Galway City CoFrank Clancy, Galway City Co Helen McDonnell, Meath Co CoHelen McDonnell, Meath Co Co Corporate CommunityCorporate Community