Hurricane IkeHurricane IkeHurricane IkeHurricane IkeCity of Houston City of Houston yy

Drinking Water PerspectiveDrinking Water Perspective

February 17, 2009February 17, 2009Texas AWWA Southeast ChapterTexas AWWA Southeast Chapter

Dannelle H Belhateche P EDannelle H Belhateche P EDannelle H. Belhateche, P.E.Dannelle H. Belhateche, P.E.Department of Public Works and EngineeringDepartment of Public Works and Engineering

Dannelle H. Belhateche, P.E.Dannelle H. Belhateche, P.E.Senior Assistant DirectorSenior Assistant Director

Department of Public Works and EngineeringDepartment of Public Works and Engineering

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston D i ki WD i ki WDrinking WaterDrinking Water

Ordinary people doingOrdinary people doing extraordinaryextraordinaryOrdinary people doing Ordinary people doing extraordinaryextraordinarythingsthingsWh t it f Utilit t iWh t it f Utilit t iWhat it means for a Utility to issue a What it means for a Utility to issue a --

““Boil Water Notice”Boil Water Notice”What worked, what didn’tWhat worked, what didn’tLife afterLife after

Hurricane IkeHurricane IkeHurricane IkeHurricane Ike

9/13/08 2:10am: Galveston Landfall9/13/08 2:10am: Galveston Landfall Category 2 110 mph windsCategory 2 110 mph winds9/13/08 2:10am: Galveston Landfall 9/13/08 2:10am: Galveston Landfall -- Category 2, 110 mph windsCategory 2, 110 mph windsHobby Airport: sustained winds 74 mph, gusts 92 mphHobby Airport: sustained winds 74 mph, gusts 92 mphBush Intercontinental Airport: sustained winds 64 mph, gusts 87 mphBush Intercontinental Airport: sustained winds 64 mph, gusts 87 mph112 deaths 34 missing112 deaths 34 missing112 deaths, 34 missing 112 deaths, 34 missing Damages $27 billion ($8 billion in Houston)Damages $27 billion ($8 billion in Houston)

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston D i ki WD i ki WDrinking WaterDrinking Water

Who is Houston’s Drinking Water Team?Who is Houston’s Drinking Water Team?Who is Houston s Drinking Water Team?Who is Houston s Drinking Water Team?Responsible for producing and distributing 385Responsible for producing and distributing 385--mgd mgd of potable water to 2.8 million customersof potable water to 2.8 million customersOperate and maintain production/treatment facilitiesOperate and maintain production/treatment facilitiesStateState--ofof--thethe--Art Water Quality Laboratory Art Water Quality Laboratory –– NELAC NELAC CertifiedCertifiedCertifiedCertifiedBackflow/Cross Connection ProgramsBackflow/Cross Connection ProgramsSource Water ProtectionSource Water ProtectionSource Water Protection Source Water Protection Process OptimizationProcess Optimization

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston D i ki WD i ki WDrinking WaterDrinking Water

Who is Houston’s Drinking Water TeamWho is Houston’s Drinking Water Team -- cont?cont?Who is Houston s Drinking Water Team Who is Houston s Drinking Water Team cont?cont?Staff comprised of:Staff comprised of:

Currently 280 people, 342 fully staffedCurrently 280 people, 342 fully staffed75 degreed employees, 5 PhDs75 degreed employees, 5 PhDs12 registered P.E.s12 registered P.E.s85 State Licensed Operators, 7 Class A85 State Licensed Operators, 7 Class A85 State ce sed Ope ato s, C ass85 State ce sed Ope ato s, C ass

3 Surface Water Treatment Plants 3 Surface Water Treatment Plants -- 500 MGD500 MGD75 Core Ground Water Plants 75 Core Ground Water Plants -- 200 MGD200 MGD6 Pressure Boosting/Re6 Pressure Boosting/Re--Pump StationsPump Stations

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston D i ki WD i ki WDrinking WaterDrinking Water

Who is Houston’s Drinking Water TeamWho is Houston’s Drinking Water TeamWho is Houston s Drinking Water Team Who is Houston s Drinking Water Team --cont?cont?

Emergency PreparednessEmergency Preparedness “Tiered” Response :“Tiered” Response :Emergency Preparedness Emergency Preparedness –– Tiered Response :Tiered Response :

Tier 1Tier 1: O&M continuity of critical functions: O&M continuity of critical functionsTier 2Tier 2: Back up team and Tier 1 relief: Back up team and Tier 1 reliefTier 3Tier 3: Incident response and follow up : Incident response and follow up Staged equipment and personnel for rapid recoveryStaged equipment and personnel for rapid recovery

Balances response duties across organization Balances response duties across organization and uses resources effectivelyand uses resources effectively

Why a Boil Water Why a Boil Water Notice?Notice?

30 TAC 290.46(q) 30 TAC 290.46(q) Special PrecautionsSpecial Precautions –– ininSpecial Precautions Special Precautions in in the event of low (<than the event of low (<than 20 psi) distribution 20 psi) distribution

th i thth i thpressure, there is the pressure, there is the potential for potential for contamination from back contamination from back flow flow intointo systemsystem

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston D i ki WD i ki WDrinking WaterDrinking Water

Why a Boil Water NoticeWhy a Boil Water Notice -- cont?cont?Why a Boil Water Notice Why a Boil Water Notice cont?cont?Before Hurricane Ike Before Hurricane Ike ––

Prior to Hurricane Ike, there were about 23 BWNs Prior to Hurricane Ike, there were about 23 BWNs in SE Texas over the past 5 years, 5 from other in SE Texas over the past 5 years, 5 from other hurricaneshurricanesMost common cause is due to pressure loss fromMost common cause is due to pressure loss fromMost common cause is due to pressure loss from Most common cause is due to pressure loss from main breaks and constructionmain breaks and constructionNo detection of any illness causing organisms, all No detection of any illness causing organisms, all precautionaryprecautionaryprecautionaryprecautionary

Issuing BWNs erodes public confidence and Issuing BWNs erodes public confidence and can be devastating for a public utilitycan be devastating for a public utilityg p yg p y

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston D i ki WD i ki WDrinking WaterDrinking Water

Why a Boil Water Notice Why a Boil Water Notice -- cont?cont?yyAfter Hurricane Ike After Hurricane Ike –– Record level (over Record level (over 6060) ) widespread BWNs.widespread BWNs.

HoustonHoustonHoustonHoustonGalvestonGalvestonClear Lake CityClear Lake CityLa PorteLa Portea o tea o tePasadenaPasadenaLeague CityLeague CityFriendswoodFriendswoodWebsterWebsterPearlandPearlandTens of smaller MUDs and CWSTens of smaller MUDs and CWS

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston Drinking WaterDrinking Water

Why a Boil Water NoticeWhy a Boil Water Notice --cont?cont?Why a Boil Water Notice Why a Boil Water Notice cont?cont?What led Houston to issue a notice?What led Houston to issue a notice?

•• Not what you’d think Not what you’d think –– total, simultaneous power loss to all 3 total, simultaneous power loss to all 3 raw water pump stations raw water pump stations –– created a sudden and dramatic created a sudden and dramatic loss of capacity (unheard of in history)loss of capacity (unheard of in history)

•• Brought up 75 ground water pump stations on generatorsBrought up 75 ground water pump stations on generators•• Incomplete coverage of service area for ground waterIncomplete coverage of service area for ground water•• Generator capacities not sufficient to maintain system Generator capacities not sufficient to maintain system

pressures under high demandpressures under high demand

Result was pressures dangerously close to 20 psi in outlying areasp y g

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston Drinking WaterDrinking Water

Why a Boil Water NoticeWhy a Boil Water Notice --cont?cont?Why a Boil Water Notice Why a Boil Water Notice cont?cont?Was there really a public health threat? Was there really a public health threat?

•• No The BWN was totally precautionaryNo The BWN was totally precautionary•• No. The BWN was totally precautionaryNo. The BWN was totally precautionaryWhat actually happened to get us back to What actually happened to get us back to normal?normal?normal?normal?

•• 30 TAC 290.46(q)(2) requires a BWN to remain in 30 TAC 290.46(q)(2) requires a BWN to remain in effect until:effect until:

Pressures recover to > 20 psiPressures recover to > 20 psiChloramine residual restored to >0.5 Chloramine residual restored to >0.5 Bacteriological samples are collected and negativeBacteriological samples are collected and negativeg p gg p g

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston Drinking WaterDrinking Water

Rising to Meet the ChallengeRising to Meet the ChallengeRising to Meet the ChallengeRising to Meet the ChallengeImmediately following storm, developed and Immediately following storm, developed and implemented a water quality response planimplemented a water quality response plan

•• Monitored pressure and chlorine residuals at numerous Monitored pressure and chlorine residuals at numerous locations locations -- confirmed above regulatory limitsconfirmed above regulatory limits

•• Collected and lab tested 65 representative samplesCollected and lab tested 65 representative samples3 samples initially tested coliform positive, but3 samples initially tested coliform positive, butRepeat samples proved negativeRepeat samples proved negative

•• No fecal coliforms detected, no low chlorine residuals foundNo fecal coliforms detected, no low chlorine residuals found,,

Result Result -- Boil Water Notice lifted within 5 daysBoil Water Notice lifted within 5 days

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston Drinking WaterDrinking Water

Getting Back to NormalGetting Back to NormalGetting Back to NormalGetting Back to NormalLessons LearnedLessons Learned

What workedWhat worked Communication communicationCommunication communication•• What worked What worked –– Communication, communication, Communication, communication, communication w/ customers, TCEQ and city communication w/ customers, TCEQ and city administrationadministration

•• All employees received NIMS training, Tier 1s All employees received NIMS training, Tier 1s advanced trainingadvanced training

Helped in communicating concisely precisely and acrossHelped in communicating concisely precisely and acrossHelped in communicating concisely, precisely and across Helped in communicating concisely, precisely and across organizational linesorganizational lines

•• Advance preparation Advance preparation –– Going through the “WhatGoing through the “What--If’s” ahead of timeIf’s” ahead of time

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston Drinking WaterDrinking Water

Getting Back to NormalGetting Back to NormalGetting Back to NormalGetting Back to NormalLessons LearnedLessons Learned

What workedWhat worked contcont•• What worked What worked –– cont.cont.Technical ability and knowledge of the system Technical ability and knowledge of the system –– When When thinking ‘outside the box’ is needed, nothing helps more thinking ‘outside the box’ is needed, nothing helps more th k l d d ith k l d d ithan knowledge and experiencethan knowledge and experience

•• What didn’t work? What didn’t work? Power, dual power Power, dual power –– over reliance on energy utilitiesover reliance on energy utilities, p, p gygyEmergency back up power Emergency back up power –– more needed at supply more needed at supply wells as well as distribution pumpswells as well as distribution pumpsEmergency generatorsEmergency generators -- not intended for long term usenot intended for long term use ––Emergency generators Emergency generators not intended for long term use not intended for long term use CityCity--wide rewide re--fueling created major logistical problemsfueling created major logistical problems

Hurricane Ike and Houston Hurricane Ike and Houston Drinking WaterDrinking Water

Moving OnMoving OnMoving OnMoving OnContinue Emergency Readiness Training Continue Emergency Readiness Training Continual Review of System ReliabilityContinual Review of System Reliabilityy yy yHarden Known WeaknessesHarden Known WeaknessesHarden Communication Protocols, Procedures and Harden Communication Protocols, Procedures and R PlR PlResponse PlansResponse PlansInternal Employee Training and Preparedness to Deal Internal Employee Training and Preparedness to Deal with Continuance of Service Issueswith Continuance of Service Issueswith Continuance of Service Issueswith Continuance of Service Issues

Continue to Educate the Public to Restore Continue to Educate the Public to Restore ConfidenceConfidence

Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?

Dannelle H. Belhateche, P.E.Dannelle H. Belhateche, P.E.Dannelle belhateche@cityofhouston netDannelle belhateche@cityofhouston netDannelle.belhateche@cityofhouston.netDannelle.belhateche@cityofhouston.net

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