AWWA WSC61404

This paper discusses risk assessment, a commonly-used method for prioritizing threats so that resources can be focused on areas where the risk is unacceptably high. Most currently-used vulnerability and risk assessment methods are applied in a highly subjective manner and tend to be focused on physical security. Engineering-based water system simulations can be used to support risk assessments and provide a quantitative basis for several steps of the process. They can be used to quantitatively identify critical distribution system assets, simulate the consequences of potential attacks or disasters, and help create and evaluate courses of action for reducing risk or responding to an actual emergency. Includes 11 references, figures.