Updated Small System Risk and Resilience Assessment Checklist
In July 2024, WICRD published an updated version of its Small System Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) Checklist. There are two versions of this guidance available, one for drinking water utilities and one for wastewater utilities. The drinking water version can assist community water systems (CWSs) serving over 3,300 people with developing an RRA in accordance with Safe Drinking Water Act section 1433/America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) section 2013.
WICRD is currently working on updating two other SDWA section 1433 compliance resources, the Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (VSAT) and the Emergency Response Plan Template. These updated resources will be published in early fall 2024.
Power Resilience: An Achievable Goal
WICRD collaborated with EPA's Office of Research and Development to develop Power Resilience: An Achievable Goal. This document builds on WICRD's Power Resilience Guide by highlighting the business case for water and wastewater utilities to implement power resilience strategies, identifying potential funding sources, and sharing case studies that demonstrate the benefits that can be achieved.
CRWU Technical Assistance Updates
WICRD's Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) initiative has continued its FY24 technical assistance to help utilities complete a climate risk assessment and adaptation planning process using the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Assessment Tool (CREAT) with consideration of environmental justice issues in parallel. CRWU’s current cohort of utilities includes Milwaukee Water Works (WI), Salishan Sanitary District (OR), South Tahoe Public Utility District (CA), Town of Hartville (WY), Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (CA), Beckley Water Company (WV), Town of Charlestown (MD), Western Virginia Water Authority (VA), Cobb County Water System (GA), Cortez Sanitation District (CO), City of Laramie (WY), and City of Asbury Park (NJ). Note that CRWU has now closed its requests for FY25 technical assistance.
How to Prepare Your Wastewater Utility for Disasters
Join WICRD for a free webinar on how to prepare your wastewater utility for disasters! This webinar will demonstrate how to use EPA’s new Small System Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) Checklist for Wastewater Utilities and the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) Template for Wastewater Utilities.
This workshop is intended for small wastewater systems. Water sector technical assistance providers and consultants are also encouraged to attend. For more information, contact dwresilience@epa.gov. Continuing Education Units are available for approved participating states.
The webinar will be offered two times. Feel free to register for the webinar that best fits your schedule:
August 28, 2024; 2pm - 3:30pm ET | Ice Storm and Cybersecurity Scenarios | Register Here
September 19, 2024; 1pm - 2:30pm ET | Flood and Cybersecurity Scenarios | Register Here
 |
|
Cybersecurity Training 102
September 4, 2024; 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET
Join WICRD for a free training focused on Operational Technology (OT). The training will cover threats facing the water sector, ways to protect your OT systems, funding opportunities, and incident response steps. The training has been approved for CEUs by various states. Register Here Cyber 102.
There is also an available Cyber 101 training that covers an introduction to the basic principles of cybersecurity. The Cyber 101 has also been approved for CEUs by various states. View Recording of Cyber 101. If you have questions related to the trainings offered, contact WaterCyberTA@epa.gov
|
Climate Resilience Training for Water Sector Utilities in the Four Corners Region
September 18, 2024; 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MT
Dolores Public Lands Office (29211 CO-184 Dolores, CO 81323)
WICRD's CRWU and EPA Region 8 will be hosting a free, in-person training for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities (including Tribal utilities) in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Utility representatives will gain a greater awareness of the impacts of climate change on water utility assets and operations, available web-based tools for conducting a climate risk assessment, and resources for funding adaptive strategies that build resilience. CEUs will be available for operators from Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
|
