OHM Advisors’ Susan Knepper Featured in the AWWA Journal for Innovative Emergency Response Planning
Susan Knepper, a senior project engineer at OHM Advisors, has been featured in the prestigious American Water Works Association (AWWA) Journal.
Susan's article, "Scenario Planning for Water System Emergency Response Strategy," highlights the critical work our water resources team has been doing to enhance water system resilience for the City of Livonia, Michigan.
A Critical Focus on Water System Emergency Planning
As water infrastructure ages, the risk of system failures increases, posing significant challenges for municipalities. In Livonia, where water mains date back to the 1920s, the city recognized the urgent need for a robust emergency response strategy. Susan’s article details how Livonia, with guidance from OHM Advisors, developed an innovative emergency response plan (ERP) to address these risks. The project involved:
- Scenario Planning: The team identified 40 potential water system failure scenarios, including losing key infrastructure components like master meter feeds and pressure-reducing valves (PRVs).
- Interactive ERP Dashboard: OHM Advisors created an interactive online dashboard using the city's GIS database and hydraulic modeling outputs to manage these scenarios effectively. This tool provides Livonia's staff with real-time guidance during emergencies, ensuring they can quickly and accurately respond to system failures.
- Enhanced Communication: The ERP also included a comprehensive plan for improving communication with critical customers—such as hospitals and schools—during water emergencies, ensuring that service disruptions are managed with minimal impact.
A Step Toward Resilient Water Systems
Susan’s article underscores the importance of proactive planning and advanced tools like hydraulic modeling and GIS dashboards in managing water systems.
As communities nationwide face similar challenges, the insights from Livonia's experience offer valuable lessons for other municipalities looking to enhance their emergency response capabilities.
Access the Full Article
While the full article is gated content in the AWWA Journal, subscribers can learn more about Livonia's emergency response strategy and OHM Advisors’ innovative approach by exploring the published article here.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to drive forward-thinking solutions for the communities we serve.
