Analysis of Vulnerable Elements of the Cities Water Infrastructure against Terrorist Threats

Urban infrastructure is an important part of the assets, and urban elements are considered for the task of providing basic needs and services-relief for citizens. So, military attacks and especially terrorist actions which can damage the safety of citizens, urban infrastructure faces serious dangers. One of the fundamental issues in terrorism, modern terrorism of sabotage against terrorist operations and regions and sensitive centers, and vital infrastructure is vulnerable. Meanwhile, due to the need of residents and industry, urban water infrastructure, as the most important element any damage to the infrastructure and serious disruption in its performance could quickly become security and social crisis. Based on this, to settle these kinds of threats and infrastructure protective mechanisms are required.

The present study based on the method and the nature is descriptive and analytic. The main research question is that “what are the most important terrorist threats which can harm elements of the city’s water infrastructure?”. What are and how vulnerable is the elements of water infrastructure in front of these threats?

The results showed that, between nine infrastructures, urban water infrastructure, due to the urgent need of civilians and civilian installations has a special place among 17 threats to the elements of water supply infrastructure in three parts and distribution. Also, water supply is vulnerable in front of three types of threat of terrorism, including terrorism, cyber terrorism and bioterrorism and in particular against suicide terrorism. Also test X2 assets have a high degree of vulnerability water infrastructure, and Friedman test results also shows that most damaged infrastructure assets is water and water supply.

Overall potable water systems are vulnerable from point of the water supply and having various different components and risks. Most of these key sectors like tanks, the settlements and others are vulnerable due to the high threats by human. Although some components like water pipes are buried, but some are invisible like performance- related accidents like failure, sat down and wastewater. sensitivity of the infrastructure is somehow that chemical contamination of the system can lead to paralysis in the long term service and clean water and restore the water system and makes the infrastructure in broad level: disorder in water treatment; storage and forwarding and transmission facilities; and the dangers of pesticides biological entry into the water system; damage to equipment, personnel; damage to public society; damage to equipment and facilities; damage to private property and problems of hazardous waste.