In a recent change of course, EPA has decided to upgrade the Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT) to make it compatible with ANSI/AWWA J100 RAMCAP® Standard for Risk and Resilience Management of Water and Wastewater Systems, published in 2010. The current version of the tool, VSAT 5, does not cover certain aspects of J100.
VSAT is an online application that will help water and wastewater utilities produce assessments of their vulnerabilities and resilience. Prompted by a series of questions, users will input information about their utilities. Then the tool will produce a report that takes into account various threats, including natural disasters, consequences, and their likelihoods of occurrence.
A number of staff with AMWA member agencies has been serving on a working group advising EPA. The agency says the upgraded tool will be ready this fall.