The Fayette Citizen-News Page

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

Water System eyes security measures

By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@TheCitizenNews.com

Fayette County's Water System is ready to take steps to beef up security.

Tony Parrott, system director, is expected to ask the County Commission Thursday to approve the Water Committee's recommendations.

The committee recently voted to recommend measures presented by consultants Fred Tanner and Company.

"We're in pretty good shape," Parrott told the Water Committee in earlier discussions, "but there are additional things we can do and we're going to look at that."

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.

"People just want to feel more secure about it," said committee Chairman Chuck Watkins.

Additional surveilance cameras and motion sensors at sensitive locations, better fencing and gates are among security measures the group discussed.

"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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