The nation's potable water supplies and associate distribution systems are vulnerable critical infrastructures prone to an asymmetric attack via chemical or biological (CB) agents. The USA Patriot Act defines critical infrastructure as an asset so vital to the United States that its incapacity or destruction would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters. The United States Government (USG) must lead the nation in preventing death or illness that would result from a CB attack on the nation's water supplies. Because private industry owns and operates approximately 85 percent of the US critical infrastructures and key assets, the USG, working with state and local government must lead the effort to improve water supply security and preparedness measures to combat the CB threat. In effect, the front lines of defense in this new type of battle have moved into the nation's communities and within individual institutions that make up the critical infrastructure sectors. | America's Water Supply by Kevin W Lackey, Paperback | Indigo Chapters