Wednesday, October 31, 2001
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Wednesday, October 31, 2001 |
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Security for local water supplies discussed By DAVE HAMRICK
Is Fayette County's water supply safe? "We're in pretty good shape," Water System director Tony Parrott told the Water Committee last week, "but there are additional things we can do and we're going to look at that." Parrott will investigate new technologies and security methods over the next two weeks and report to the committee during its Nov. 14 meeting. Committee members discussed numerous possible scenarios for sabotage of the water supply, in light of the current atmosphere of concern over terrorism, and concluded that there might be more that the system can do to protect the water. More fencing and lighting for the new South Fayette Water Treatement Plant on Antioch Road is one possibility, with fencing costs estimated at $110,000. But committee Chairman Chuck Watkins said he doubts the need. "I don't see anybody carrying a 55-gallon drum back through the woods and dropping it in our lagoon," he said. If the raw water is tainted before being treated, that contamination will be discovered and dealt with, he said. Likewise, saboteurs aren't likely to climb a water tank carrying heavy chemicals to poison the supply that way, committee members said. But the system might be vulnerable in other areas, and measures should be taken, they said. "People just want to feel more secure about it," said Watkins. Parrott said the water system's security company, Utlimate Security, already is looking into alternatives such as additional surveilance cameras and motion sensors at sensitive locations. "We ought to look at the whole package," said County Attorney Bill McNally. "One doesn't know when you are the target, so you have to be as prepared as you can," McNally said, but added that beyond doing as much as possible to be prepared, people shouldn't be overly concerned. "I honestly think the worst thing we can do is just be afraid," he said.
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