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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