(a) Subject to authorization as provided in subsection (c) of Code Section 12-5-203, not later than September 1, 2010, the authority shall issue a request for proposal for a thorough and detailed engineering study developing a district-wide emergency plan covering every qualified system. Such plan shall identify sufficient emergency water supply sources and detailed steps required to modify a qualified system's operations to accept or share water with adjacent water providers within the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District during emergencies to supply essential water needs.

(b) The emergency plan shall evaluate risks and, where feasible, plan for a district-wide interconnection reliability target for immediate implementation of approximately 35 percent of the annual average daily demand and a long-range district-wide interconnection reliability planning goal of approximately 65 percent of the annual average daily demand.

(c) Such plan shall be based initially on the 2035 water demand forecasted by the district in 2009 and updated by a revised forecast every five years thereafter and shall include or be based upon:

(1) An evaluation of factors affecting water system reliability, including raw and finished water storage, infrastructure conditions, equipment redundancy, and existing interconnection capability;

(2) Detailed hydraulic studies to determine overall distribution system improvements required to meet projected demands;

(3) A consideration of various emergency situations, including, without limitation:

(A) The failure of the largest water treatment facility of a qualified system;

(B) The full unavailability of major raw water sources due to federal or state government actions;

(C) The limited or reduced availability of major raw water sources due to federal or state government actions;

(D) The short-term catastrophic failure of a water distribution system;

(E) The short-term contamination of a water supply system; and

(F) The short-term contamination of a raw water source making it unsuitable for use;

provided, however, that the results of poor planning or inadequate infrastructure investments by a qualified system shall not constitute an emergency situation.

(4) An evaluation of the feasibility and cost effectiveness of providing multidirectional flows at existing and future interconnections with a pipe diameter equal to or greater than 12 inches;

(5) A continuously updated inventory of distribution system components, including good system maps;

(6) Steps that need to be taken to receive water from an adjacent utility within the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District or to provide water to another utility within the district, including required new infrastructure and the location of such infrastructure for both the interconnection reliability target for immediate implementation and the long-range interconnection planning goal;

(7) Consideration of chemical compatibility, treatment requirements, water quality, operating pressure, and impact on water withdrawal permits;

(8) A detailed estimate of the costs of implementation for both the interconnection reliability target for immediate implementation and the long-range interconnection planning goal;

(9) A model intergovernmental agreement for sharing and pricing of water during emergency situations; and

(10) Creative financing options for implementation of recommended interconnection projects.

(d) Each qualified system shall coordinate with and assist the authority in the development of the emergency plan.

(e) The authority and its consultant shall meet at least once every three months with the district water supply technical coordinating committee to review the progress of the plan. The authority and its consultants shall receive and may incorporate the comments of the committee into the plan.