AWWA WSC67791

The use of a Risk Analysis and Management for Critical Asset and Protection (RAMCAP™) analysis, whether by itself or through the use of more familiar industry tools such as a RAMCAP Consistent VSAT (RC-VSAT) analysis or a RAMCAP Consistent RAM-W (RC-RAM-W) analysis, is the logical next step in the evolutionary sophistication that the sector is taking towards its security needs. This paper takes a brief look at the current evolution of RAMCAP for the water sector and suggests ways that such an analysis can support the industry in making what can be costly capital investments and changes in policy decisions. The RAMCAP Framework, however, has application to much broader issues facing the sector. The authors suggest that a RAMCAP analysis can be a valuable tool as an integrated part of a utility's asset management system to focus and inform decisions of critically important equipment assets, providing actionable probabilities to suggest maintenance frequencies, investment changes or operating procedure modifications. In a similar but very different approach, the RAMCAP Framework can form the structure and facilitate the language needed to bring together a variety of critical infrastructures in a community for a focused analysis of a critical area or region of interest. Real prioritization and effective investment can be made when all parties involved speak a common language. Finally, RAMCAP can be employed to facilitate the nontraditional water sector issues of valuation and standards. The ability of RAMCAP to describe consequences in real dollar terms to the community can help to make a defensible case for infrastructure investment and the value of the asset to the region. In a corollary application, a need is evolving for water sector utilities to be able to demonstrate and certify that they meet a reasonable baseline level of security for their operations. Without a standard, it is virtually impossible to clearly demonstrate that a level of due diligence has been achieved. The RAMCAP Framework and its sector specific guidance go a long way towards the adoption of a voluntary consensus standard for the sector. Includes table.