Emergency Preparedness and Planning

• Emergency Response and Planning Guidance for Water SystemsMS Word orPDF
• CWS NTNC (serving 3,300 people or fewer) ERP TemplateMS Word orPDF
  
• CWS (serving over 3.300 people) Supplemental ERP TemplateMS Word orPDF
  
• Emergency Response and Planning Checklist for Water SystemsMS Word orPDF
  

OAR 333-061-0064 became effective January 1, 2022.

• developing procedures for emergency events involving high-risk contaminant sources or activities,
  
• identifying institutional customers serving vulnerable populations, 
  
• developing, and maintaining an emergency contact list,
  
• identifying decision making authorities, and
  
• developing procedures for notifying agencies, customers, and local media during emergencies.
  

Note: Water systems are not required to certify to DWS that their plans are complete and should not send documents with critical information to DWS. These documents must be made available for review during the water system’s sanitary survey. 

• DEQ’s Source Water Assessment website
  
• EPA’s Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (free, downloadable tool applies to both small and large water systems)
  
• How to certify completion of RRA or ERP to the EPA – for systems serving over 3,300 people
  

Power outages

• EPA’s power resilience guide provides information on how to use generators, fuel supply planning and other methods to increase water system resiliency.
• Quick facts about auxiliary power for water systems

Earthquakes

• 2001 earthquake risk evaluation pilot study for hospitals and water systems in Oregon from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.
• EPA’s earthquake resilience guide describes strategies that water systems can take to prepare for and lessen the effects of earthquakes.
• Guidance from FEMA on how to install seismic restraints for mechanical equipment

Flooding

• How water systems can increase their flood resiliency is an EPA guide for flooding preparation, response and recovery.
• What to do when your well has flooded offers guidance for private well owners. Developed by OHA Drinking Water Services.

Drought and Water Conservation

• Current drought conditions in Oregon from the U.S. Drought Portal
• Incident Action Checklist on how to prepare, respond and recover from a drought from the EPA.
• Drought Response and Recovery Guide for water systems including case studies from around the U.S. Developed by the EPA.
  
• Saving water in Oregon factsheet, an introduction to Oregon’s water source and water issues from the EPA.
  
• Water saving tips and considerations for water providers by the Oregon Water Resources Department.
  
• Guidebook designed to assist water suppliers in preparing a Water Management Conservation Plan from the Oregon Water Resources Department.
  
• EPA’s Water Conservation Resources for Small Drinking Water Systems includes water audits & water loss control, water efficiency, water availability strategies & controlling water loss in distribution systems.
  

Cybersecurity

• EPA Cybersecurity Best Practices for Water Systems
  
• 15 Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Water and Wastewater Utilities from the from Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC).
• Water Sector Cybersecurity Risk Management Guidance from the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
  
• Cybersecurity Guidance For Oregon Water Systems: MS Word or PDF
  
• Cybersecurity Risk & Responsibility in the Water Sector from AWWA
  
• Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) - Ongoing Cyber Threats to U.S. Water & Wastewater Systems
  
• Cyber Risks & Resources for the Water & Wastewater Systems Sector from CISA
  
• Free services from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): vulnerability scanning, remote penetration, testing, phishing, cyber risk and vulnerability assessments
  
• Cyber Security Evaluation Tool: a free desktop software tool that includes ransomware assessment and provides recommendations based on findings
  

Source Water Protection

Protecting your system’s water source whether it’s groundwater, surface water or GWUDI is vital to improving resiliency and ability to prepare and respond to emergencies and natural disasters. Planning for emergencies such as a contaminant spill near your source should be tailored to hazards identified in your source area. Water system personnel can develop source water protection strategies by identifying hazards, potential contaminants or land use practices that could impact their drinking water source. Examples of source water protection include reducing runoff pollution and sedimentation by restoring riparian zones and stabilizing stream banks, land protection or easements, limiting risky human activities in source water or wellhead protection areas and public education. For additional resources, visit Drinking Water Service’s source water protection page.

Chemical Storage

• The do’s and don’ts of chemical storage in a water treatment plant provided by EPA.

Hauling Water During an Emergency

• Drinking water hauling guidelines from Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services

Emergency Response and Preparedness Trainings

• Strategies from the EPA on how to create resilient water systems
  
• Past webinars on water system security and critical infrastructure protection from the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA).
• The Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Framework (NRF) are national standards for preparing for and managing emergency situations. These ICS and NIMS training videos made by the EPA can be useful for operators and staff in how to manage emergencies.
• EPA resilience training tools for water and wastewater utilities, includes how to plan for trainings, how to develop table top exercises, etc.
• Resilience Assessments Webinar. Introduction on conducting a Risk and Vulnerability Assessment from the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC).
• To help save human lives, hold regular earthquake drills in your water system with resources from The Great Oregon Shakeout.
  
• FEMA IS-553.A: Coordination between Water Utilities and Emergency Management Agencies. This course seeks to enhance the knowledge and skills of emergency management agencies and drinking water utilities to enable more effective cross-sector relationships.