Emergency Plan - Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority

Water System Pressure Loss
EVENT SPECIFIC GUIDELINES 12(ESG-12)
WATER SYSTEM PRESSURE LOSS
3.2.41. SITUATION
GSWSA operates and maintains several hundred miles of water mains throughout its
service area.
GSWSA relies on these water mains to transport potable water from the treatment
plants to each and every customer, maintaining the same quality, adequate pressure,
and volume from start to finish.
A partial or total loss of Distribution System pressure could be created by inadequate
pressures / volumes being discharged from the pumping stations, and/or, excessive
demand for water from the system. (For high system demand due to a major water
main leak or break, refer to ESG-11.)
3.2.42. THREAT or HAZARD INFORMATION
A partial or total loss of pressure in the Water Distribution System can create a
number of problems. Possible complications include, but are not limited to:
• reduction in pressure available to customers
• reduction in volume (amount) available to customers
• complete loss of water service to customers
• loss of business for commercial customers that depend on water service
• loss of pressure / volume for fire fighting activities
• contamination from foreign materials being back-siphoned into the system
through “cross-connections” during low / no pressure
3.2.43. CONCEPT of OPERATIONS
GSWSA operates and maintains pressure transmitters at the pumping stations to
control and monitor the pressures that are being introduced into the Distribution
System.
GSWSA operates and maintains a number of remote pressure transmitters throughout
the Distribution System that, through the SCADA system, constantly monitor the
water pressure in many areas of the system.
Any pressure transmitter registering a pre-determined pressure will send a “Low
Pressure” alarm to the SCADA System (Control Room PC) and to the On-Call
Operator’s pager.
3.2.44. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Specific procedures regarding Distribution System maintenance activities are
maintained in the Utilities Division Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Manual.
Determine approximately how many customers are affected, and to what extent. (For
assistance estimating how long it will be before dropping water storage levels
throughout the system reach “critical”, refer to Action Form 12.)
Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority 121 CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS
Emergency Management Plan
SECURITY SENSITIVE
June 7, 2013
NOT FOR PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE