Bi-City Safety and Homeland Security

# of

The Safety/Homeland Security Division of the Texarkana Water Utilities serves in a support capacity to provide safety and health protection for all employees of Texarkana, Texas; Texarkana, Arkansas; and Texarkana Water Utilities. This is accomplished by using the Risk Management process to identify risks/hazards and then implement proper control measures through an effective Safety Program. The purpose of this Safety Program is to establish a system that provides a safe workplace for City employees who, by working safely, help maintain the City’s ability to deliver services to citizens in an efficient manner.

Improving the physical security of water systems in the United States has become a priority for utility managers and governing bodies since the events of September 11, 2001.

Interruption of water system service, whether from natural disasters or malevolent actions, can result in widespread public health impacts and economic or environmental damages. Because water systems have been identified as critical infrastructure, these systems may be a target for adversaries.

The mission of Texarkana Water Utilities is to provide safe dependable treated water to its customers for normal consumption, sanitary needs, firefighting needs and industrial needs in that order. Attacks on Utility physical and cyber systems will weaken performance or prevent operations.

In FY 2004 a Safety/Homeland Security Officer was added and he concentrates on reports, surveys, grants, procedures, training, physical security up-grades and physical inspections necessary to deal with security issues of the Water Utilities.

The Safety/Homeland Security Manager is responsible for overall direction, coordination, and daily management of the safety Program.