America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) requires municipal water systems serving more than 3,300 people to complete a Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) and develop an Emergency Response Plan (ERP).
The deadline to comply with AWIA is rapidly approaching. Utilities serving 3,301 to 49,999 individuals must submit a RRA certification of completion to the EPA by June 30th, 2021.
EPA Fact Sheet
Water systems serving 3,301 to 49,999 must submit an ERP certification of completion to the EPA no later than 6 months after completing the RRA, i.e. December 30, 2021.
Going forward, water systems must update and re-certify their RRA and ERP every 5 years.
Tools for compliance with awia section 2013
Utilities can conduct RRAs and ERPs using tools, methods, and standards of their choosing, however, the chosen systems must meet the specific requirements outlined under AWIA Section 2013. It is the utility’s responsibility to fully address all requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended by the AWIA.
Tools available to assist with RRAs and ERPs include:
Risk and Resilience Assessment Checklist
This checklist was developed to help small community water systems comply with RRA requirements. It can be used to identify malevolent acts and natural hazards, but the checklist does not cover all aspects of water system security and resilience, including asset management, climate change, and emergency preparedness/response.
Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (VSAT)
VSAT is a digital, web-based tool that can help drinking water and wastewater utilities of all sizes conduct an RRA. This tool is particularly useful for large community water systems and can be used to provide qualitative and quantitative threat assessments from malevolent acts and natural hazards. It also provides an optional cost-balance analysis of countermeasures and a risk and resilience summary report.
Emergency response plan Template and Instructions
An ERP describes strategies, resources, plans, and procedures utilities can use to prepare for and respond to an incident, natural or man-made, that threatens life, property, or the environment. The ERP Template features an embedded blank Word document that can be easily accessed and modified by utility personnel to meet your water system needs.
Water/Wastewater experts
Regulatory requirements like these can place a significant burden on your utility. The tools made available to help municipalities comply with AWIA are valuable, but the time-consuming process can nevertheless overextend your already busy team. R/M’s water and wastewater experts have worked with communities throughout Wisconsin to comply with AWIA by completing and certifying their RRAs and ERPs. We’re here to help your utility do the same.
About the Author
CHRISTOPHER L. EPSTEIN, P.E.
Project engineer
Chris has extensive experience in the planning, design, and construction of water supply and wastewater management facilities, as well as the start-up of water and wastewater treatment processes.
