A young Viennese company recognised this scenario already several years ago and has since bridged the gap in the market crisis prevention with an emergency and crisis management (technology and organisation) for water utilities. The company Aquaprotect founded by Christian Plohberger and Martin Langer emerged from a scientific cooperation of the Vienna University of Technology and the Vienna Waterworks (MD 31).

The project developed in this connection could become a model for the whole branch – not only in Austria! By the beginning of May 2005 (Cologne), top managers of German gas and water management dealt intensively with questions of modern crisis and emergency management. Presided by Walter Kling, deputy operating officer of the MD 31, a vivid discussion developed on concrete crisis events, which also incorporated the approaches developed by Aquaprotect.

How does the other side think and act?

Following the discussion on problems due to accidents, the seminar continued with the elaboration of crisis scenarios, which could be triggered by terrorist threats. Unusual for many participants – and therefore particularly interesting – was the invitation to change sides.

Thus, water utility experts mutated – at least for short – into terrorists, which had to plan an attack. Group formation, planning games, implementation – all-inclusive. For those few who already knew this kind of role-playing, surprises were in store. For the role-playing developed by Aquaprotect does not end there.

Now, a computer system takes over the task to generate the most different scenarios from the data entered and to confront the participants with partly highly unexpected impacts. This way, every “terrorist cell” is able to recognise the concurrence of singular events.

The "good guys" draw their conclusions

Back to the side of the “good guys”, the participants understood how dangerous situations/events could be perceived and controlled. The most important insight was unanimous: crisis events can be controlled to a certain extent – if there is enough expertise on their development in the run-up.

And: this does not only apply to the worst case – a terrorist attack –, but equally to flood events and other nature catastrophes. Only by a detailed knowledge on possible event developments can uncertainties be avoided and can those responsible react rapidly and efficiently.

As Reinhold Krumnack, the responsible expert of education within the DVGW, confirms the response of the seminar participants was extremely positive. "Everybody was really committed, particularly in the planning game ‘terrorist attack on a drinking water system’, but also in the workshop on crisis prevention! We are presently discussing together with out partners the creation of a sequel to this seminar."

A further important constituent of crisis management is event and crisis communication. After all, the daily media "live" to a great part on crises. They have to be able to "process" events as fast as possible, which entails that high demands are placed on preventive crisis management, too.

This has therefore to ensure an open, qualified, and rapid communication. In the preparation phase, possible scenarios can and should be gone through. Events like those in Cologne highlight innovative approaches and technologies, which can be used today in crisis prevention.

The creation of an emergency and crisis management plan, however, is certainly not an assembly-line work, where prefabricated solutions can be simply transferred. "Every company is different," explains Christian Plohberger, "So technological and management approaches always have to be adjusted to the given factors."

Before a crisis management project is launched, Aquaprotect holds a brief audit with the employees of the respective utility. As to new technological measures, Plohberger cloaks himself in secrecy for understandable reasons...

Advanced crisis management sought

Thus, modern crisis management does not end with the compilation of telephone lists. On the contrary, it consciously deals with possible risks and develops targeted solution strategies, whose top priority is applicability. Most advanced computer simulations can make important contributions.

They allow analyses of crisis events and prepare purposeful countermeasures. The Austrian Association for Gas and Water/ÖVGW also stays abreast of today’s possible crisis scenarios. Thus, the Guideline W74 “Drinking water emergency supply” was completely revised under the management of Wilfried Schimon (BMLFUW).

For the German Armin Töpfer, one of the internationally most renowned experts in the field of crisis management, emergency and crisis prevention is an investment in the future of a company. For the mere reason that hardly a person in charge would like to see his/her name on the front page linked to something that went wrong or that he/she failed to do. There are still too many examples for this!
(Source: aqua press Int. 3/2005, DI Martin Langer, DI Christian Plohberger)

Contact & Information:

Aquaprotect GmbH
DI Martin Langer
DI Christian Plohberger
Mariahilferstraße 22-24/1/12
A-1070 Wien
Tel.: +43 (0) 650/513 68 00
Fax: +43 (0) 650/513 68 002