US EPA’s Community-Based Water Resiliency (CBWR) Initiative: Enhancing Utility Preparedness and Resiliency with Minimal Economic Impact

摘要

US EPA’s Community-Based Water Resiliency (CBWR) initiative is a community-focusedapproach to water preparedness that addresses water emergency planning and resiliency for avariety of critical services and key businesses including drinking water and wastewater utilities.Water infrastructure is a vital public health and economic resource; yet critical service providersand businesses in many communities have not factored the Water Sector into emergencypreparedness planning and are ill-prepared to handle potential consequences of a water serviceinterruption. Potential threats to the availability of water include natural disasters (e.g.,hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes), man-made disasters, and climate change impacts.The CBWR initiative was created to foster collaboration between water utilities and allcommunity members. The program increases community preparedness by: (1) raising awarenessof Water Sector interdependencies and encouraging integration of the Water Sector incommunity preparedness planning and response efforts; and (2) increasing the resiliency andpreparedness of drinking water and wastewater utilities by delivering tools and information toincrease community collaboration and bolster security practices. The CBWR electronic toolincreases awareness of Water Sector interdependencies, gives communities over 350 freeresources to develop and implement resiliency plans, and includes a self-assessment tool thatprovides tailored recommendations on which tools and resources will best assist the user in waterplanning and preparedness.By attending this session participants will understand the importance of collaborating with allcommunity partners to increase the integration of the water sector in preparedness planning.They will also learn about CBWR tools, and communication and outreach materials that can beused to educate critical community partners and promote collaboration and partnerships betweenwater utility owners/operators and the communities they serve.