DWSPP’s Early Warning and Emergency Response workgroup with support from U.S. EPA Region 3 and the Horsley Witten Group, Inc. (HW) conducted a source water protection exercise in the Potomac River basin in April 2012. The exercise consisted of organizations that may be involved in a drinking water source emergency in the Potomac basin, including local, state, and federal government agencies, drinking water primacy and public safety agencies, and utilities. Modeling and communications programs were supplied by the Interstate Commission of the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG). Financial support for this exercise is provided by the U.S. EPA Region 3.

The purpose of the exercise was to test communications among utilities and emergency management agencies, enable utilities to practice public message coordination, and evaluate information systems designed to assist utilities during an incident.

An After Action Review meeting was held in May 2012 to discuss the exercise, review lessons learned, and identify improvements to response plans.