Mutual Aid and Assistance for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities
A mutual aid and assistance network provides water and wastewater utilities with the means to quickly obtain help in the form of personnel, equipment, materials and associated services from other utilities to restore critical operations impacted during any type of emergency, big or small.
Becoming a member of a mutual aid and assistance network before an emergency occurs can make all the difference when your community’s water or wastewater system needs help. Use the resources below to ensure you have an effective support system in place.
Learn about WARN
Water and Wastewater Agency Response Networks (WARNs) are comprised of "utilities helping utilities" within a state that respond to and recover from emergencies by sharing resources with one another. WARNs are governed by a common mutual aid agreement. The WARN agreement allows utilities to share resources in a more expedited way, compared to other mechanisms that require a formal disaster declaration. The agreement spells out how liability, workers’ compensation, insurance and reimbursement will work. Other benefits include increased emergency preparedness and coordination, and enhanced access to specialized resources. Utility responders, once notified, are typically on the ground within 24 hours.
See the types of responses WARNs can be used for in the video below.
Join a WARN
WARNs are built on a strong base of utility members. All types of water utilities – drinking water, wastewater, public, private, large and small – can benefit from joining their state WARN.
WARNs exist in 49 of the 50 states, as well as the National Capital Region. Follow the links in the table below for more information on how to join your state’s WARN.
* These WARNs do not have websites. If interested in joining, please click on the WARN Chair name to send an email for more information. For any other information, please reach out to EPA at WICRD-Outreach@epa.gov.
Access WARN Resources
Each intrastate WARN enters into a mutual aid and assistance agreement that best meets the member utility needs. These agreements clarify liability, reimbursement, response procedures and joint planning efforts. Standardized Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement (doc) .
Promote WARN
- Show the WARN video below to promote WARN at various conferences and meetings.
"EPA WARN" presents an overview of the WARN program to help educate utilities who are interested in becoming members (runtime 5:39 min).
Explore the Value of a WARN Membership.
See the following documents on the value of WARN for different types of systems:
- Small Water Systems: A Vital Component of WARN
- Tribal Water Systems: A Vital Component of WARN
- Wastewater Systems: A Vital Component of WARN
- State Primacy Agencies: A Vital Component of WARN
See successful collaborations between state agencies and WARNs:
Integrate WARN and other Mutual Agreements
- Learn about Interstate Mutual Aid and Assistance by reading our factsheet on EMAC: Water Utilities and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact
- Learn about participating in multiple agreements to maximize the ability to obtain resources by reading: Integrating WARN and other Mutual Aid Agreements
Access WARN Exercise Tools
Learn about how tabletop exercises (TTX) can strengthen WARNs.
WARNs are strengthened by regular exercises. Use the materials below to help your WARN develop and execute a TTX.