Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT)
EPA’s SWIFT initiative works directly with drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities, technical assistance providers, and other water sector stakeholders across the Nation to increase system resilience to natural hazards and disasters.
Utility Technical Assistance
Through technical assistance, SWIFT provides location-specific natural hazard data and practical risk assessment tools to identify and evaluate resilient strategies. With this support, SWIFT helps promote a better understanding of natural hazard threats and their impacts on vulnerable assets, providing the guidance needed to make risk-informed infrastructure and investment decisions. SWIFT also offers approaches to infrastructure financing, making necessary connections that help utilities fund the implementation of their disaster resilience projects.
Water sector utilities can request free technical assistance through SWIFT by clicking the button below, then in the Water Technical Assistance portal, fill out the form and ensure to select the last option in item #14 of the form. Request SWIFT Technical Assistance
2025 American Relief Act Disaster Supplemental Appropriation for Water Emergencies for Hurricanes Helene and Milton
EPA released a memorandum announcing $60 million in disaster relief supplemental funding to address water emergencies in states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and all impacted Tribes. This funding comes from the American Relief Act, and is appropriated as Safe Drinking Water Act Section 1442(b) and Clean Water Emergency allocations for grants and technical assistance.
Tools and Resources
- Resilient Strategies Guide: A free online tool for water sector utilities beginning to assess potential risks to their systems.
- VSAT: A free online tool for water sector utilities pursing comprehensive risk assessment and resilience planning.
- Hazard Maps: Explore data resources to enhance understanding and assess risks of natural hazards.
- Case Studies: Learn about water utilities’ natural hazard concerns, risk assessments, and adaptive measures.
- Funding Utility Resilience Projects: Review available funding programs, technical assistance options, and other financial resources to help implement water utility resilience projects.
Upcoming Workshops and Webinars
Register for an upcoming Office of Water Emergency Response and Cybersecurity (OWERC) event in the list below. If you have any questions about these events, please contact OWERC-Outreach@epa.gov.
-
Natural Hazard Technical Assistance for Updating your Emergency Response Plan
Join EPA’s Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) initiative for a free webinar on updating your emergency response plan (ERP) for natural hazards.
-
Water Sector Utility Case Studies for Building Resilience to Natural Hazards
Learn how water sector utilities are benefitting from SWIFT technical assistance. Hear directly from utility representatives across the country that have engaged in the process to build system resilience to various natural hazards.
-
Building Winter Weather Resilience for Water Sector Utilities
SWIFT’s experts can provide customized technical assistance to help your utility build resilience to winter weather hazards through risk-informed project planning and investment.
Contact SWIFT to ask a question or for more information.