Emergency / Incident Planning

Emergency response plans describe the actions that a drinking water or wastewater utility would take in response to a major event, such as natural disasters or man-made emergencies. They should address the issues raised by the utility's vulnerability assessment. The information given below is of vital importance to water utilities, but it is also a valuable resource for other government and private sector entities, such as public health and law enforcement officials, emergency responders, laboratories, and technical assistance providers. Guidance documents and planning tools to improve the quality and efficiency of measures taken to respond to accidental or purposeful contamination incidents are described below.

Utilities are strongly encouraged to regularly review and update their vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans.

Under the Bioterrorism Act, drinking water systems must certify completion of emergency response plans within 6 months of certifying that their vulnerability assessment is complete. Detailed instructions for completing and certifying your emergency response plan (PDF) (1 p, 23K) are available. Please note that you are required by federal law to maintain a copy of your emergency response plan for five years after submitting your certification to EPA.

• National Incident Management System (NIMS)
• Emergency Response Tools and Guidance
• Mutual Aid and Assistance

• NIMS Training for the Water Sector (73pp) PDF (1.8MB) | PPT (10.4MB)
• ICS Training for the Water Sector (143pp) PDF (3.7MB) | PPT (26MB)

Specific information about what is required for 2007 NIMS Compliance can be found on this website: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/compliance/2007.shtm

FEMA recommendations for private sector NIMS compliance activities can be found on this website: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/compliance/ps_implement.shtm

Training on the Incident Command System and National Incident Management System can be found on these websites: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100.asp
http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIweb/is/is100PW.asp
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is200.asp
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700.asp

Emergency Response Tools and Guidance

• Reimbursement Tips for Water Sector Emergency Response and Recovery (PDF) (2pp, 164 Kbytes) EPA 817-F-09-004, August 2009
• Decontamination and Recovery Planning - Water and Wastewater Utility Case Study (PDF) (12pp, 875K), EPA 817-F-08-004, September 2008 - This report documents the planning and experiences of a large combined water and wastewater utility related to decontamination and recovery. The study outlines specific planning steps that may be beneficial to other utilities in their planning and preparedness to respond to a contamination event.
• Emergency Response Tabletop CD-ROM Exercises for Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems - This CD contains exercises to help train water and wastewater utility workers in preparing and carrying-out emergency response plans. The 12 unique exercises can help strengthen relationships between a water supplier and their emergency response team and users can adapt the materials for their own needs. Trainers or users can select the threat warning from the eight basic types described in the Response Protocol Toolbox and choose from five basic event types: intentional contamination, security breach, cyber security, physical attack, and interdependency.

• The Wastewater Emergency Response Plan Guidance Document (PDF) (83 pp, 2,450K) has been published by the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) . This tool assists wastewater systems in preparing their emergency response plans (ERPs). It is intended to help wastewater systems to organize their planning efforts, and to provide a reference for the types of information and data that should be included in an emergency response plan. A limited number of hard copies will be available from WERF on a first come first serve basis by calling 703-684-2470.

Response Protocol Toolbox (RPTB)

• Interim Final Response Protocol Toolbox: Planning for and Responding to Contamination Threats to Drinking Water Systems - These modules provide emergency response planning tools that are designed to help the water sector to effectively and appropriately respond to intentional contamination threats and incidents. EPA produced the Toolbox, building on the experience and expertise of several drinking water utilities, particularly the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Organized in modular format, the Toolbox assists with emergency response preparedness and will be of value to drinking water utilities, laboratories, emergency responders, state drinking water programs, technical assistance providers and public health and law enforcement officials. Users are encouraged to review the overview before using other Modules. Please note that the Toolbox contains guidance that may be adopted voluntarily. The modules are also available in MS Word for those wishing to utilize the forms and text.

MODULE	DOWNLOADS
Overview (EPA-817-D-03-007)	(PDF) (17 pp, 3,482K)	(Word) (17pp, 463K)
Water Utility Planning Guide - Module 1 (EPA-817-D-03-001)	(PDF) (46 pp, 3,025K)	(Word) (46 pp, 1,182K)
Contamination Threat Management Guide - Module 2 (EPA-817-D-03-002)	(PDF) (96 pp, 3,737K)	(Word) (96 pp, 2,559K)
Site Characterization and Sampling Guide - Module 3 (EPA-817-D-03-003)	(PDF) (85 pp, 2,883K)	(Word) (85 pp, 1,583K)
Analytical Guide - Module 4 (EPA-817-D-03-004)	(PDF) (113 pp, 4,966K)	(Word) (113 pp, 5,282K)
Public Health Response Guide - Module 5 (EPA-817-D-03-005)	(PDF) (84 pp, 2,261K)	(Word) (84 pp, 1,548K)
Remediation and Recovery Guide - Module 6 (EPA-817-D-03-006)	(PDF) 112 pp, 2,258K)	(Word) (112 pp, 1,279K)

• Response Protocol Toolbox: Response Guidelines (PDF) (75 pp, 1,470K) (also available in Word Format) - An action oriented document to assist drinking water utilities, laboratories, emergency responders, state drinking water programs, technical assistance providers, and public health and law enforcement officials during the management of an ongoing contamination threat or incident. The Response Guidelines are not intended to replace to Response Protocol Toolbox and they do not contain the detailed information contained within the six complete modules. The Response Guidelines are to be viewed as the application of the same principles contained in the Response Protocol Toolbox during an actual incident. The Response Guidelines have been developed to provide an easy to use document for field and crisis conditions. Finally, users are encouraged to adapt the Response Guidelines as necessary to meet their own needs and objectives.
• A Water Security Handbook: Planning for and Responding to Drinking Water Contamination Threats and Incidents (PDF) (72 pp, 8,827K) - EPA prepared this simplified handbook for water utilities as an overview of EPA's comprehensive Response Protocol Toolbox: Planning for and Responding to Contamination Threats to Drinking Water Systems from the perspective of a water system manager. The Handbook describes how to recognize intentional water contamination threats and incidents, what actions a utility should take in the event of a threat or incident, possible roles of the water utility within the larger Incident Command framework, and how the National Incident Management System is organized. It also describes the utility's actions and decisions during site characterization, laboratory analysis, public health response, remediation and recovery. The Handbook is intended to be a companion to the Response Protocol Toolbox: Response Guidelines. It will also be helpful to utilities that are preparing or updating their emergency response plans.
• Emergency Response Plan Guidance for Small and Medium Community Water Systems (PDF) (45 pp, 415K) - Document published by EPA for use by community water systems serving a population between 3,301 and 99,999 as they develop or revise emergency response plans. The document should be of considerable value to key authorities with critical roles during emergency response or remediation actions resulting from a drinking water contamination threat or incident. This document is also available in MS Word for those wishing to utilize the forms and text. Printed copies, in limited quantities, can be obtained from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)
• EPA Environmental Laboratory Compendium - Database of nationwide environmental laboratories available to water utilities and to federal and state agencies. The database contains each laboratory's specific capabilities to analyze chemical and biological analytes as well as chemical warfare, bioterrorism, and radiochemical agents. It was developed as a tool to quickly identify laboratories with capabilities to support incident-specific response and recovery. The compendium is intended to assist water utilities and federal and state agencies in responding to contamination threats, terrorist attacks, or natural disasters. To access the database, those interested must first register and receive a reply.
• PipelineNet - Software that monitors and projects the fate and transport of contaminants potentially introduced into water distribution systems, particularly as related to use and application in an emergency response situation. The Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), EPA, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) developed the software, which can be used to
• Determine optimal placement of extraction and monitoring instruments.
• Help develop monitoring regimes for routine screening of distribution system water quality.
• Predict or track the fate and transport of contaminants in a system to effectively respond to a purposeful contamination incident, as well as accidental events such as backflows or cross connections.
• Feasibility of Using the PipelineNet (PDF) (50 pp, 463K) - Report that evaluates the feasibility of using the PipelineNet water distribution system model in different water utility settings. Prepared by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation .
• Top Ten List for Small Ground Water Suppliers (PDF) (1 p, 75K) - List developed to assist small public water suppliers with security and emergency planning. Includes tips to help suppliers to protect their facilities from tampering or contamination incidents and to prepare for potential emergencies. Developed by EPA Region 1.
• Large Water System Emergency Response Plan Outline: Guidance to Assist Community Water Systems in Complying with the Bioterrorism Act (PDF) (12 pp, 79K) - Guidance developed to aid utilities in preparing emergency response plans as required by the Bioterrorism Act. Provides guidance that is not a requirement of the federal government, and some sections might not be applicable to every system. In addition, states might have requirements that supersede this outline.
• Instructions to Assist Community Water Systems in Complying with the Bioterrorism Act (PDF) (23 pp, 244K) - Contains information on actions required of community water systems to comply with the act, deadlines for submission of emergency response plans based on system size, instructions for submitting the required materials to EPA, and contact information. The Addendum to the Instructions (PDF) (6 pp, 126K) provides clarifications, corrections, and additions.
• Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT) - The Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT) is a secure, online database developed by the U.S. EPA that provides information on contaminants of concern for water security. As a planning tool, WCIT can be used to help create and update emergency response plans and site-specific response guidelines. As a response tool, WCIT can be used to provide real-time data on water contaminants to help utilities make decisions if contamination occurs.

• Utilities Helping Utilities: An Action Plan For Mutual Aid And Assistance Networks For Water And Wastewater Utilities (PDF) (30 pp, 1,031K) - The "Utilities Helping Utilities" concept is about creating an opportunity to enhance water and wastewater utility resiliency in response to disasters. A mutual aid and assistance network is designed to provide a mechanism whereby water and wastewater utilities that have been impacted by an emergency could quickly obtain emergency assistance in the form of personnel, equipment, materials, and other associated services, as necessary, from other water/wastewater utilities using a master or omnibus mutual aid and assistance agreement signed by member utilities. The primary objective is to facilitate rapid, short-term deployment of emergency support to restore critical operations at the affected water/wastewater utility.

  The link above provides and action plan for the development of an intrastate mutual aid and assistance network. This document was published by American Water Works Association who is sponsoring workshops on mutual aid and assistance through a grant funded by the EPA.

• Interstate Mutual Aid and Assistance: EMAC Tips for the Water Sector (PDF) (2 pp, 627K) EPA 817-F-07-012, October 2007 - The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) provides a mechanism whereby drinking water and wastewater utilities can provide interstate (between states) mutual aid and assistance during times of emergency.
• Water Sector Mutual Aid and Assistance: Utilities Helping Utilities (PDF) (2 pp, 126K) EPA 817-F-07-015, October 2007 - This fact sheet discusses the mission of Water Sector Mutual Aid and Assistance (WARN) and provides further information to expedite access to specialized resources needed to respond to and recovery from natural and human caused events that disrupt public and private drinking water and wastewater utilities.
• The Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) Tabletop Exercise Facilitator Guide provides instructions for planning, organizing and conducting a tabletop exercise and includes sample exercise materials such as scenarios (flood, hurricane, and earthquake), discussion questions, and presentation slides. Tabletop exercises will allow WARNs to practice and exercise their mutual aid/assistance operational plan or other procedures so that requesting and responding utilities have a better understanding of how to implement their WARN agreement. By practicing the functionality and operations of activating the agreement, a WARN will respond more effectively and efficiently during an actual incident.
  • WARN Tabletop Exercise Facilitator Guide Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 627K), EPA 817-R-08-003, September 2008
  • WARN Tabletop Exercise Facilitator Guide (64pp) PDF (1.6MB) | Word (4.5MB), EPA 817-R-08-005, September 2008
  • Attachment 8: Sample PowerPoint Presentation Materials
  • Introduction Slides, PowerPoint, (13 slides, 1MB)
  • Scenario 1: Flood Slides, PowerPoint, (21 slides, 2MB)
  • Scenario 2: Hurricane Slides, PowerPoint, (27 slides, 1.6MB)
  • Scenario 3: Earthquake Slides, PowerPoint, (23 slides, 1.5MB)
• WARN Poster – Mutual Aid and Assistance in the Water Sector PDF (3 pp, 2MB) EPA 817-H-08-001, October 2008 – This Poster describes mutual aid and assistance in the water sector, how and why it works, who supports it, and where to find additional resources. The poster can also be printed for display (up to 4’ X 6’), or as a handout (8.5 X 11), at conferences and other events.

About Us | Safewater Home | Wastewater Home | Publications | Links | Contacts

EPA Home | Privacy and Security Notice | Contact Us

Last updated on November 11, 2004 3:17 PM
URL: http://cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity/home.cfm