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Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities

  • Emergency Response Plans

    Learn about developing or updating an Emergency Response Plan for your utility.

  • Incident Action Checklists

    Explore Incident Action Checklists for 14 different emergency scenarios.

  • Water and Wastewater Agency Response Networks (WARN)

    Learn about and join your local WARN.

EPA has a variety of tools and guidance to support drinking water and wastewater utility preparedness and response. Our resources can help you become a more resilient utility.

Planning

Planning
  • Develop emergency response plans
  • Plan for emergency drinking water
  • Access Incident Action Checklists
  • Supply Chain - Chemical Shortages
  • Develop Telecommunications Plans
  • Prepare for Position Navigation and Timing Risks

Hazard Resilience

Hazard Resilience
  • Build earthquake resilience
  • Build flood resilience
  • Build pandemic resilience 
  • Build power resilience
  • Build wildfire resilience
  • Respond to drought
  • Hazard Mitigation Guide

Mutual Aid

Mutual Aid
  • Learn about Water/Wastewater Agency Response Networks (WARNs)
  • Join a WARN
  • Access WARN exercise tools

Decontamination

Decontamination
  • Learn about decontamination
  • Documents to guide remediation
  • Sampling methods and decontamination technologies
  • Explore the Response Protocol Toolbox

Risk Communication

Risk Communication
  • Develop messages for water emergencies

Related Information

  • Water Resilience
  • Water Utility Response On-The-Go Overview Video
  • Community Water Resilience
Join Our Email List

Featured Tools

  • Flood Resilience Guide
  • Drought Response and Recovery Guide
  • Response On-the-Go
  • Tabletop Exercise (TTX) Tool

Featured Technical Assistance

  • All-Hazards Boot Camp
  • Don't Get Soaked Video
  • National Incident Management System/Incident Command System for the Water Sector
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 18, 2025
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