Maine.gov

Division of Environmental and Community Health

Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention

A Division of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services

DHHSMeCDCEnvironmental and Community HealthDrinking WaterPublic Water SystemsSecurity and Emergency Preparedness → Top Ten Security Measures

Top Ten Security Measures


  1. Perform a vulnerability assessment to effectively uncover your system's vulnerable points in order to successfully secure your facility.
  2. Prepare (or update) an Emergency Response Plan. Plans should be reviewed annually and all employees must receive adequate training to effectively carry out the emergency plan, thereby becoming familiar and confident with their roles in an emergency situation.
  3. Post emergency contact numbers at your facilities, in your consumer confidence reports, customer bills, web pages and any other highly visible area such as the office, pump-house, and on your vehicles. All personnel should have updated emergency contact numbers, which should be shared with your local law enforcement and response officials.
  4. Get to know your local law enforcement and ask them to add your facilities to their routine rounds. Practice emergency response procedures with local law enforcement, emergency responders and public health officials.
  5. Fence vulnerable areas at your drinking water facilities (e.g., wellheads, manholes, pump-house, treatment buildings and storage tanks).
  6. Lock all access points to your facility (e.g., access gates, doors, windows, hatches, finished water). Also, lock monitoring wells to prevent vandals or terrorists from pouring contaminants directly into ground water near your source. Set alarms to indicate illegal entry.
  7. Install motion activated lights around the perimeter of the pump-house, treatment facility and parking lot.
  8. Limit access to your water system. Do not allow anyone unassociated with your system to enter or wander around your facility. Verify the identity of delivery people. Request strangers to leave, or call local law enforcement if you have trespassers.
  9. Monitor water quality aggressively and be observant for unusual conditions including signs of intrusion and/or contamination (unusual water color, odors, sheens, fish kills and sudden increased chlorine demand).
  10. In the event of an emergency follow your emergency response plan and don't forget to contact your state drinking water regulatory agency.

Contact the Drinking Water Program for assistance with security issues and concerns:

  • Phone: (207) 287-2070
  • Fax: (207) 287-4162
  • TTY: Maine Relay 711

Updated 12/6/2022