ISO 24596-2024 PDF

Full title and description

Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services — Guidelines for the planning and implementation of infrastructure hardening for water and wastewater systems. This International Standard gives guidance to water and wastewater utilities on planning, selecting and implementing measures to harden infrastructure and improve resilience against unwanted or unplanned access and related service interruptions.

Abstract

This document provides guidelines for the planning and implementation of hardening measures for different water and wastewater infrastructure elements with the aim of improving the resilience and security of services provided by water utilities. It covers the determination and selection of protective measures for water supply and sewer collection systems as part of risk management. The standard is applicable to all sizes and types of water and/or wastewater utilities but does not include guidelines for protecting large water sources such as lakes or rivers.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: February 2024 (Edition 1, 2024-02).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 03.080.30; 13.060.20; 13.060.30.
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2024).
• Number of pages: 34 pages (ISO documented length).

Scope

Provides guidance for the planning and implementation of infrastructure hardening specifically for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services. The scope includes assessment of assets, specification of hardening measures, prioritization and implementation planning for utilities. The document explicitly excludes guidelines for protection of large water sources (for example lakes and rivers) and focuses on supply, distribution, collection and utility-controlled assets and sites.

Key topics and requirements

• Principles for assessing vulnerability and risk to water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Identification and classification of assets critical to service continuity.
• Selection and design of physical hardening measures (perimeter control, access restriction, structural protection, hardened enclosures).
• Operational controls and procedural measures to complement physical hardening.
• Prioritization and phased implementation based on risk, criticality and available resources.
• Integration with utility risk management, crisis management and asset management processes.
• Monitoring, maintenance and review of implemented hardening measures and continuous improvement.
• Limitations and exclusions (non-applicability to large natural water sources).

Typical use and users

Primary users are water and wastewater utility managers, asset and security planners, civil and infrastructure engineers, emergency and crisis management teams, consultants and regulators. The standard is intended to guide planning teams developing resilience and security programs, capital works specifications, and operational procedures related to physical protection and hardening of utility assets.

Related standards

ISO/TC 224’s family of 24xxx and 25xxx standards provides complementary guidance; directly related standards include guidance on alternative water service during crises (ISO 24595:2024), smart water management and governance (ISO 24591‑1:2024), and crisis management for water utilities (ISO 24518:2015). These documents together support resilience, crisis response and continuity planning for water services.

Keywords

infrastructure hardening, water utility resilience, physical security, access control, risk assessment, drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, asset protection, utility planning, crisis resilience.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: An ISO International Standard (ISO 24596:2024) providing guidelines for planning and implementing infrastructure hardening measures to improve resilience of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services.

Q: What does it cover?

A: Guidance on asset vulnerability assessment, selection and design of physical and operational hardening measures, prioritization and implementation planning for utility-controlled assets; it does not cover protection of large natural water sources such as lakes and rivers.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Water and wastewater utility managers, asset and security planners, engineers, emergency planners, consultants and regulators involved in resilience, security and capital works planning.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: It is current — published in February 2024 as Edition 1 (ISO 24596:2024) and listed as a published International Standard.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ISO/TC 224 family of standards addressing drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems (the 24xxx / 25xxx series). Related ISO documents (for example ISO 24595, ISO 24591‑1 and ISO 24518) provide complementary guidance on crisis provisions, smart water management and crisis management respectively.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: infrastructure hardening; water utility resilience; physical security; access control; risk management; drinking water; wastewater; stormwater; asset protection.