Water utilities serving more than 3,300 people have new action to take to comply with Section 2013 of America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA). A Risk and Resilience Assessment must be conducted and certified every five years and an Emergency Response Plan must be developed/updated no later than six months after the Risk and Resilience Assessment certification. If you need assistance in developing the Risk and Resilience Assessment or the Emergency Response Plan, we’re here to help.
The timing on response for these certifications are dependent upon your population served. Here are the important certification deadlines to be mindful of, courtesy of the EPA website:
Certification Deadlines for the Risk and Resilience Assessments
| Population Served | Risk and Resilience Assessment | Next 5-Year Cycle Submission Date |
|---|---|---|
| ≥100,000 | March 31, 2020 | March 31, 2025 |
| 50,000-99,999 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2025 |
| 3,301-49,999 | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2026 |
Certification Deadlines for Emergency Response Plans
| Population Served | Risk and Resilience Assessment | Next 5-Year Cycle Submission Date |
|---|---|---|
| ≥100,000 | September 30, 2020 | September 30, 2025 |
| 50,000-99,999 | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2026 |
| 3,301-49,999 | December 30, 2021 | December 30, 2026 |
*NOTE: Emergency Response Plan certifications are due no later than six months from the date of the Risk and Resilience Assessment certification. The dates shown above are certification dates based on a utility submitting a Risk and Resilience Assessment on the final due date.
Risk and Resilience Assessment Provisions
Risk and Resilience Assessments will evaluate the vulnerabilities, threats, and consequences from potential hazards and include:
- Risk to the system from malevolent acts and natural hazards.
- Resilience of the pipes and constructed conveyances, physical barriers, source water, water collection and intake, treatment, storage and distribution facilities, electronic, computer, or other automated systems which are utilized by the system.
- Monitoring practices of the system.
- Financial infrastructure of the system.
- Use, storage, or handling of various chemicals by the system.
- Operation and maintenance of the system.
Emergency Response Plan Provisions
Emergency Response Plans must incorporate findings from the Risk and Resilience Assessment and be coordinated with local emergency planning committees. These plans must include:
- Strategies and resources to improve the resilience of the system, including physical security and cybersecurity.
- Plans and procedures that can be implemented, and identification of equipment that can be utilized, in the event of a malevolent act or natural hazard that threatens the ability of the community water system to deliver safe drinking water.
- Actions, procedures, and equipment which can obviate or significantly lessen the impact of a malevolent act or natural hazard on the public health and the safety and supply of drinking water provided to communities and individuals, including the development of alternative source water options, relocation of water intakes, and construction of flood protection barriers.
- Strategies that can be used to aid in the detection of malevolent acts or natural hazards that threaten the security or resilience of the system.
Certifications of the Risk and Resilience Assessment and Emergency Response Plan must be submitted to the EPA by the above-stated deadlines to comply with AWIA. Wright-Pierce routinely works with water utilities of all sizes to develop and maintain these plans. To learn more about how we can help you comply with AWIA provisions, please email or call us at 888-621-8156.