Water systems prepare emergency operation plans for flu pandemic

Health experts generally agree that it’s not “if” but “when” an influenza pandemic will strike, and the highly pathogenic avian flu could be the next deadly strain that leads to a global health crisis. But U.S. water and wastewater utilities aren’t waiting for a verdict: They’re taking pre-emptive measures so that basic operations will continue if a pandemic does occur.

Drawing on the experiences of past pandemics (1918, 1957, 1968), health experts know that waves of illnesses will last about six to eight weeks; should the avian flu also attack in a similar fashion, much of the country’s workforce will be sidelined and utility operations in particular will be significantly disrupted. It will be critical for water managers to provide adequate supplies of safe drinking water and to prevent water systems from becoming compromised or unavailable altogether; otherwise, nationwide outbreaks of diarrhea and waterborne disease are inevitable.

In many states, like California and Colorado, contingency plans are being coordinated on a larger scale encompassing local, regional and state agencies. California’s preparations, for example, have a dual focus: pandemic and birds-only (a major concern is protecting the state’s commercial poultry industry). Colorado State University just received $2.6 million in federal funds to study how interactions between humans and birds may lead to more widespread transmissions of avian influenza.

We are being advised by our state public health officials to expect up to 40 percent absenteeism during peak pandemic periods,” Laskey says. “Since this has never occurred in modern times, we don’t have much experience with predicting whether employees who are not ill will stay home for fear of exposure. Therefore, the real number may be higher if the 'worried well' don’t report to work.”

Key managers may be among the sick, so standard operating procedures must be kept up to date and an inventory of resources and functions readily available. A utility’s Emergency Response Plan also should establish a chain of command and include succession plans, financial plans, notification procedures and steps for contacting state agencies.

Cross-training also is essential to keep water systems up and running.

Some employees may need to stay on the job and be sequestered to avoid coming in contact with the virus.

The federal EPA Office of Water will distribute information on the virus and nominate priority water systems staff to be among the first to receive vaccines and antiviral drugs. In addition, the agency is developing emergency drills and cross-training guidance, as well as offering forums and workshops.

The federal government also has been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization to monitor the spread of the avian flu.

SOURCE: BCWaterNews.com