Abstract
Unless a water or wastewater utility has had to deal with a serious disruption in the past, emergency preparedness may not have been a priority. However, with COVID‐19, every water and wastewater utility has now faced a prolonged emergency and can—and should—learn from it.
Keywords: Emergency Planning, Utilities, AWWA Policy Statements
The pandemic has affected water and wastewater utilities in new ways, from supply chain disruptions to remote work to revenue loss, all while the public expects uninterrupted service. To their credit, these utilities have performed exceptionally, both in dealing with the disruptions and in maintaining customer confidence.
AWWA POLICY STATEMENTS AND GUIDANCE
As the world begins the long road of recovery after COVID‐19, water and wastewater utilities will be considering how to better prepare for the next emergency. Fortunately, they need not start from scratch, as AWWA offers several policy statements and much guidance that can inform a comprehensive approach to emergency preparedness.
AWWA Policy Statement on Emergency Preparedness and Security. Established in 2006, this statement (https://news.awwa.org/Preparedness) observes that “emergency preparedness and security are of paramount importance to the reliable delivery of safe drinking water, the protection of public health, and the safety of the professionals responsible for water systems. … Utilities that provide water or wastewater services are encouraged to integrate emergency preparedness and security into their culture, including, but not limited to, establishing partnerships with state, provincial, county, local public health, law enforcement, and other emergency‐response entities.” There's also a more complete guide, AWWA's Manual of Water Supply Practices M19, Emergency Planning for Water and Wastewater Utilities, described later in this column.
AWWA Policy Statement on Electric Power Reliability for Public Water Supply and Wastewater Utilities. Most US water and wastewater systems depend entirely on the electric grid. Without power, water service can't last long. Although addressing electric power loss specifically, this AWWA policy statement (https://news.awwa.org/ElectricPower) emphasizes the importance of continuous service under any circumstance. It states, “Every water and wastewater utility should set uninterrupted service as an operating goal. … Avoiding extended interruptions in water service is essential for protecting public health, fire safety, local economies, and the environment.”
AWWA Policy Statement on Cash Reserves. Recognizing customers’ limited ability to pay water bills due to the record unemployment associated with COVID‐19, most water utilities have chosen not to shut off service for nonpayment. Although this choice is commendable under the circumstances, it also threatens utilities’ revenue. One of AWWA's newest policy statements (https://news.awwa.org/CashReserves) speaks to the need for water utilities to maintain cash reserves. It states, “Utilities should establish cash reserve policies … [that] consider operational and capital risks, level of risk tolerance, any governing financial requirements, future capital funding requirements, revenue volatility, and other ways to manage or mitigate financial risks.”
AWWA Policy Statement on Public Involvement and Customer Communication. During emergencies, communication is particularly important to maintain the confidence of both employees and customers. This policy statement (https://news.awwa.org/Communication) observes, “The credibility and reputation of utilities and the water profession as a whole are supported by open and ongoing communication that establishes relationships and creates a framework for understanding, trust, and cooperation, especially in times of crisis.” AWWA's more complete guide, Trending in an Instant, is described later in the column.
AWWA G440‐17: Emergency Preparedness Practices. This AWWA management standard (https://news.awwa.org/G440) defines the “minimum emergency preparedness requirements” for water and wastewater utilities “to respond to emergencies and restore normal operations [and] to minimize the disruption of critical lifeline services that are essential to public health, fire protection, sanitation, economic activity, and consumer confidence.”
M19, Emergency Planning for Water and Wastewater Utilities. This AWWA manual (https://news.awwa.org/M19) addresses “best practices for the prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery of utility operations during critical incidents.” It covers commitment, assessment, planning, partnerships, communications, training, and mitigation.
Trending in an Instant: A Risk Communication Guide for Water Utilities. Recognizing the importance of communication when a utility is in the spotlight, AWWA recently published Trending in an Instant: A Risk Communication Guide for Water Utilities (https://news.awwa.org/Trending). Its appearance just weeks before COVID‐19 was nothing short of prescient. This accessible guide explains how to become a trusted information source, leverage appropriate media, and respond to negative coverage. It also includes practical checklists, templates, and talking points on important topics. This guide should be part of any emergency preparedness plan.
Cybersecurity Risk & Responsibility in the Water Sector. With increased interest in and the necessity of operating water systems remotely—even before COVID‐19—cybersecurity has come to the forefront more than ever before. This brief report (https://news.awwa.org/Cybersecurity) outlines the risks and challenges of remote operations and offers guidance on the subject.
Business Continuity Planning for Water Utilities. COVID‐19 is an excellent example of a long‐lasting disruption. Water utilities should have a plan to stay in business during such events. This document (https://news.awwa.org/Continuity) describes how to develop a business continuity plan to “keep the heart beating” and not just “stop the bleeding.” Templates, videos, and other supporting materials are available.
Webinars. AWWA offers excellent webinars on many subjects, including several free webinars (https://news.awwa.org/33A6aNG) to help the water community deal with the impacts of the pandemic.
LOOKING AHEAD
Water and wastewater utilities always provide essential services but are especially important in emergencies. COVID‐19 underscores their critical role and renews the importance of their emergency preparedness, with provisions for pandemic scenarios in particular. Fortunately, AWWA offers considerable policy and guidance. Water and wastewater utilities can take advantage of these resources and learn from their COVID‐19 experience to better prepare for the future. For additional information, visit www.awwa.org/coronavirus.
Biography
Robert B. Sowby is a water resources engineer at Hansen, Allen & Luce (www.halengineers.com), South Jordan, Utah.