Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/840541
Getting to Grips with… site security The current threat level for international terrorism in the UK is classed as 'severe', and damage or destruction to essential water services by extremist groups has the potential to threaten public health, disrupt services and even cause loss of life. What can be done to mitigate the risk? The Knowledge Q: Which protection strategies should be considered? A: It is vital for water authorities to drive a risk management strategy, which should be supported by governance and implemented by the board and senior management. All employees, contractors and suppliers should have a clear understanding of the risk management regime and be familiar with all related policies, practices and risk boundaries. The best methodology for water authorities to safeguard themselves against security threats is to use a fusion of protective measures encompassing physical, personnel and cyber security. A multi-layered approach will deliver the optimum combination of deterrence and detection, and assist in the delay of any attack. It is imperative that procedures, measures and investments put in place are appropriate SITE PROTECTION Q&A www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | JULY 2017 | 21 Chris Edwards AccoUnT DeveLopmenT mAnAger, SIemenS BUILDIng TechnoLogIeS and proportionate for that specific situation. Even within the same authority, the needs of different locations will vary considerably; therefore priority must be given to ensure the security measures taken are relevant to the threat, rather than a 'blanket approach'. A full risk assessment should be undertaken across individual locations to uncover potential vulnerabilities, understand the impact of intrusion or attack, and identify the optimum security response. Q: What role can technology play? A: Water authorities are o en located on large and remote sites, creating vulnerabilities and making safety and security a key issue of concern. Therefore the key purpose of electronic security systems for this industry should be to deter, detect, delay and deny unauthorised intrusion and to communicate and control any security or