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Providing for Water Utility Operation After Nuclear Attack
Author(s) -
Whitley Fenner H.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1962.tb00879.x
Subject(s) - peacetime , emergency planning , plan (archaeology) , emergency management , civil defense , risk analysis (engineering) , operations management , operations research , business , computer security , environmental planning , computer science , engineering , environmental science , law , history , archaeology , political science
Because of the resumption of nuclear bomb testing and increasing cold war tensions, it is important that water utilities take immediate steps to develop emergency plans to cope with a nuclear disaster. A number of water utilities have already done so, but too many have not faced up to the problem of emergency planning. Careful attention should be given to the emergency planning steps outlined in the following paper. Especially worthy of emphasis is the need for personnel training, particularly in the use of emergency radiation monitoring equipment and interpretation of the readings. Such instruction is highly important for utilities using surface water supplies. It should be pointed out, too, that emergency monitoring equipment is considerably less expensive and requires much less skill to operate than does low‐level “peacetime” equipment for radioactivity measurement. Because of rapid technological developments, there is a continuing need for more information to assist utilities in emergency planning. The AWWA Board of Directors, during its January 1962 meeting, accordingly approved the formation of the Committee on Civil Defense Planning and Operations. The time for water utilities to plan for emergencies is now, however. Plans should be developed on the basis of existing facts and modified as new information is released.