MSc Program Environmental Technology & International Affairs

A Masters Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Science

supervised by

Affidavit

I, ISABEL MANK, hereby declare

1. that I am the sole author of the present Masters Thesis, "ENERGY BLACKOUTS AND WATER OUTAGES: A RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACH TOWARDS RAISING AWARENESS AND ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY", 116 pages, bound, and that I have not used any source or tool other than those referenced or any other illicit aid or tool, and

2. that I have not prior to this date submitted this Masters Thesis as an examination paper in any form in Austria or abroad.

Vienna, 08.06.2015 Signature

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Abstract

Awareness of the risk of an energy blackout and its effects on the water sector

are inadequate. It is undeniable that electricity is needed for water pumps and the

mechanical treatment of wastewater. A gravitational water flow can avoid

interdependency, which is regionally limited and should not be generalized. This work

aims to raise awareness and assume responsibility in order to show that a risk for

blackouts and water outages exist in industrialized countries and that planning and

preparation are necessary. A risk management approach with five pillars is used as a

guideline. The first pillar emphasizes the lack of examination of the effects of a power

outage on the water sector. Todays critical infrastructure is more complex and

vulnerable to power outages than ever before. The causes for outages as covered by the

second pillar include natural, societal and technical causes. A blackout does not need to

be the disaster itself, but can be the result of heat waves or mismanagement. The

consequences of blackouts and water outages, as described in pillar three, reach from a

halt of water supply and low water quality to disrupted communication and social

upheaval. Suddenly common behavioral structures are questioned and communication

channels are cut. Missing communication means emphasize the need for in advance

preparation and exchange between all stakeholders. Technical mitigation measures such

as backup generators can only sustain daily life temporarily, while self-sufficient energy

systems and renewable energy sources could provide electricity as energy islands. Social

resilience and public/ private partnerships are additional management mechanisms

assuring safe drinking-water and hygiene throughout the blackout. Several possible

response measures are shared, although their application depends on a variety of aspects,

for example: duration of the power outage; the amount of regions or countries

concerned; and the season of the year. A fixed plan cannot be applied given that

blackouts and water outages are unpredictable. Stakeholder interviews conducted in

Austria and international case examples help to define awareness, perceptions and

responsibilities towards blackouts and water outages in industrialized countries.

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Table of contents

Abstract........................................................................................................................ v

List of abbreviations................................................................................................. viii

Acknowledgments....................................................................................................... xi

1. Introduction.......................................................................................................... 1

2. Methodology ......................................................................................................... 3

2.1. Objectives and problem statement ................................................................... 4

2.2. Definitions ...................................................................................................... 5

2.3. Structure.......................................................................................................... 6

3. Reasoning a focus on water outages................................................................... 10

3.1. The water-electricity connection.................................................................... 11

3.2. Water outage as a hazard? ............................................................................. 12

3.3. Financial investments in a blackout ............................................................... 15

3.4. Existing literature on water outages caused by blackouts ............................... 18

4. Identifying causes for hazards and their likelihood .......................................... 20

4.1. The likelihood of hazards and the perception to causes for water outages ...... 22

4.2. Direct and indirect causes for water outages: Nature and society ................... 30

4.3. Technical cause: Blackout as a cause and risk................................................ 35

4.4. Cooperation and responsibilities in times of crisis exemplified for Austria .... 38

5. Assessing the effects of power and water outages ............................................. 47

5.1. Effects of a blackout on water availability, quality and treatment................... 49

5.2. Disrupted communication.............................................................................. 58

5.3. Social upheaval and unrest ............................................................................ 65

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6. Management mechanisms for safe drinking-water and hygiene.......................70

6.1. Possibilities to raise awareness and attract action within institutions .............. 72

6.2. Relocation as a response measure for a blackout and water outage? ............... 76

6.3. Backup generators and other means of technical preparation..........................79

6.4. Supplying, treating and storing water for direct consumption at home............ 90

6.5. Refining cooperation and public involvement ................................................ 98

7. Implementing risk mitigation mechanisms ...................................................... 107

8. Conclusion......................................................................................................... 114

References ................................................................................................................ 117

List of figures ........................................................................................................... 124

List of tables ............................................................................................................. 125

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List of abbreviations

ACPA Austrian Civil Protection Association

APG Austrian Power Grid

ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers

BGBI Bundesgesetzblatt

BMI Bundesministerium fr Inneres

BMWFW Bundesministerium fr Wissenschaft, Forschung und

Wirtschaft

BMVIT Austrian Federal Ministry for Traffic, Innovation and

Technology

BWZ Bundeswarnzentrale

CDC Center for Disease Control

DHS/OCIA Department of Homeland Security Office of Cyber and

Infrastructure Analysis

DWP Drinking-water Provider

EFDRR European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction

EKC Einsatz- und Koordinationscenter

EU European Union

EVN Group Energieversorgung Niedersterreich

FAG Finanzausgleichsgesetz

GAC Granular activated carbon

IFRC International Federation of the Red Cross and Red

Crescent

KIT Karlsruhe Institute for Technology

LADWP Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

LWZ Landeswarnzentrale

MDGs Millennium Development Goals

MOTI Ministry of the Interior

Natechs Natural-hazards triggering technological accidents

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NBC Defence School

OVGW

PAHO

RC

SCADA

SKKM

SSC

SWOT

TCCC

THW

UN/ISDR

UNISDR

UK

UV

WASH

WBGU

WHO

WTP

Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence School

Austrian Association for Gas and Water

Pan American Health Organization

Red Cross

Supervisory control and data

Staatliches Krisen- und Katastrophenmanagement

Safety and Security Center

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

The Coca-Cola company

German Federal Agency for Technical Relief

United Nations/International Strategy for Disaster

Reduction

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

United Kingdom

Ultraviolet

Water, sanitation and hygiene promotion

German Advisory Council on Global Change

World Health Organization

Wastewater Treatment Plant

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Acknowledgments

Carrying out this research thesis would not have been possible without the help

of many contributors. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor

Dr. Norbert Kreuzinger, who provided constructive and prompt advice and who shared

many insights into scientific writing.

Likewise I would like to thank the stakeholders from the Austrian Red Cross, the

Ministry of the Interior, the NBC Defence School, the drinking-water units in Bad

Fischau and Vienna and the stakeholders from the wastewater treatment plants in

Laxenburg a