mekorot’s experience in preparing for emergency situations

Mekorot’s experience in Mekorot’s experience in preparing for emergency preparing for emergency situationssituations

Presented by:Presented by:Mr. Sion CohenMr. Sion CohenV.P. for Planning & Infrastructure V.P. for Planning & Infrastructure DevelopmentDevelopment

May 2006May 2006

Presented by:Presented by:Mr. Sion CohenMr. Sion CohenV.P. for Planning & Infrastructure V.P. for Planning & Infrastructure DevelopmentDevelopment

May 2006May 2006

Our July 2001 “Wakeup Call”

Four tons of Ammonia accidentally flowed into the National Water CarrierThe decision process was flawed and the contamination reached the consumersThe Ministry of Health Water issued a no-use of waterPanic through out the central district

We had to do something, fast and skip to a higher level that enabled a more effective response

The Outcome

Ground Water

Ground Water

Cloud Seeding

Cloud Seeding

Surface Water

Surface Water

DesalinationDesalination

Reuse water Reuse water

Control SystemsControl Systems

Water Resources ManagementWater Resources ManagementSources

Wells Wells

Agriculture, Municipal Sector, Industry and Neighbors ( Jordanians and Palestinians)

Agriculture, Municipal Sector, Industry and Neighbors ( Jordanians and Palestinians)

Brackish WaterBrackish Water Sea WaterSea WaterDrinking WaterDrinking WaterSewage WaterSewage Water

Water SecurityWater Security

Technological ImprovementsTechnological Improvements Water Quality Water Quality

Quality

Mekorot – Israel’s National Water CompanyMekorot – Israel’s National Water Company

Total Assets- 3b US$

AAA rating

600 m US$ revenue

200 m US$ development

2,000 employees

Mekorot – Israel’s National Water CompanyMekorot – Israel’s National Water Company

Water Resources

Reuse

Desalination Control Systems

Water Security

R&D

Mekorot’s ActivitiesMekorot’s Activities

Water Quality Wells

R&D

The National Water SupplyThe National Water Supply

Annual Water Consumptionin million m3 (m.c.m.)

Based on 2005 figures

Total 808 121 1134 2,063

66181 657

1399

14740 477

664

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Others

Mekorot

Others 147 40 477 664

Mekorot 661 81 657 1399

Residential Industry Agriculture Total

A limited supply of water situated with 4 major sources:

The See of Galilee

The mountain aquifer

The coastal aquifer

Desalination

Main Water SourcesMain Water Sources

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

increasing consumption of water.m

illio

n m

3

Mekorot – Domestic ConsumptionMekorot – Domestic Consumption

Dafnia and small

fish

Elephant Fish

Biosensors for Water SecurityBiosensors for Water Security

The Need

Managing and operating correctly during emergency

situations is essential to minimize effects

Guidelines and Procedures

Improving crisis management

Training

Exercises

Organizational Preparedness

Constant Improvement

Roadmap for Upgrading Emergency and Security Preparedness

Identifying gaps

Preparing procedures

Coordinating the procedures

Training and workshops at all levels

Exercises at all levels

Extensive debriefing

Surprise exercises

Lessons learntWork plan for improvement

Important Points for Crisis Management

Implement simple and workable procedures Use a uniform language within the organization and other agenciesCreating strong cooperation and coordination with all parties

Assimilate the procedures.Preparing a decision support system that determines whether the information gathered commands an emergency situation and when to shift from the routine to emergency mode.Deploy situation rooms for crisis control

Important Points for Crisis Management – cont…

Important Points for Crisis Management – cont…

Provide uniform modes of communication for accurate reporting

Training management on how to arrive at an accurate and reliable situation assessment – “connecting the dots”

Extensive exercises

Eng. Team Info. center

Authorities reps.Video Conference

Professional Teamwork

Situation RoomsSituation Rooms

Situation Rooms Deployment

Jordan District

Northern District

Central District

Southern District

Head Office Legend

unit

district

Managerial Team

Flow Chart for Emergency Situations

Initial data assessment

Determining the severity of the event

Reporting

Complementary data collection

Arriving at situation assessment

Verification that operational orders mitigated the problem

Operational orders - who, when and where

Back to routine

Threshold trigger

Grading the Event

All events are graded based on the apparent severity.

The severity grade dictates who manages the event, who to report to, what feedback is required and the resources to be allocated etc.

Severity Grade

This is based on a standard table for grading the event.The grade takes into account:

the number of anticipated people effected, the level of contamination, complaints of illnessmedia involvementprofessional assessment of situationprevious historical events at same locationother factors

All procedures and guidelines must be learnt by the employees, by way of theoretical and “on-site” training.

Periodic training includes “table top” and field exercises at all levels

Training

Points for preparing exercises

Pre-determine the goals and lessons to be learnt.Investigate the various agencies that will participate in water emergency events, Prepare several complete scenarios for each exercise. Assign a silent controller to every participant. Provide time for a detailed and extended debriefing period. Preparing a detailed work plan for improvement

Added Value

Fifty percent of the goal is achieved by pre-exercise preparation.A reduction in the number of water quality and water security events has been shown.Discovering weak points in the system without being in real crisis.Proper response in times of crisis at all levelsUniform language between the participants and other agencies

Summary and Recommendations

Mekorot has over the past five years upgraded its preparedness several levels

This is been by investing in monitoring systems, DSS models, situation rooms, uniform procedures and guidelines, training and exercises.

Collaboration with other agencies and consumers has risen tremendously.

This methodology actually works in preparing a large water company.

It is a long process and must be directed with full commitment by top management.

With enough patience it is possible to achieve excellent results.

Summary and Recommendations – cont…

Thank you