{"id":248534,"date":"2024-04-09T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.republicofgreen.com\/required-water-system-update-resilience-assessments-and-pl\/"},"modified":"2024-04-09T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T14:00:00","slug":"required-water-system-update-resilience-assessments-and-pl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.republicofgreen.com\/required-water-system-update-resilience-assessments-and-pl\/","title":{"rendered":"Required Water System Update: Resilience Assessments and Pl"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\t\t\tIt\u2019s 2024. Do You Know Where Your Risks Are (and What to Do about Them)?
\n\t\t<\/h5>\n<\/p>\n
By The Black & Veatch Insights Group<\/p>\n
A record 28 \u201cbillion-dollar\u201d weather and climate disasters struck the United States in 2023, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), causing an estimated $92.9 billion in damages. The year was not an outlier but part of a rising trend in disruptive natural disasters increasing in intensity, frequency and resulting cost. Such extreme events \u2013 compounded by aging infrastructure, changing demand patterns, supply chain issues and workforce changes \u2013 can be expected to continue, endangering the critical energy, water and communications infrastructure that drives business and underpins our quality of life. It\u2019s putting utilities under increasing pressure to actively manage their risks and increase their resilience.<\/p>\n
Water Sector: Time to Prep for Required Updates<\/strong><\/p>\n Water utilities have a mechanism to address the pressure. The America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA) was passed into law in October 2018 and, through amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, introduced a new requirement for water systems serving more than 3,300 people to conduct a risk and resilience assessment (RRA) and prepare an emergency response plan (ERP) that incorporates the findings of the RRA. Both elements need to be reviewed and updated every five years and certified by the utilities to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).<\/p>\n With the first round of certifications completed during the 2020-2021 timeframe, water utilities are coming up on the next round. They must re-certify to USEPA that they have conducted, reviewed, or updated their RRAs and ERPs by the following dates.<\/p>\n Served Population1<\/sup>\u00a0<\/strong> Served Population1<\/sup>\u00a0<\/strong> Served Population1<\/sup>\u00a0<\/strong> 1<\/sup>The total served population must include consecutive systems served by the utility, if any.<\/em><\/p>\n Taking a Consistent Approach to Risk and Resilience Assessments<\/strong><\/p>\n Although the EPA does not require the use of specific standards, methods or tools for completing RRAs, it has recommended the use of available standards and tools from the Agency and the American Water Works Association (AWWA). These standards and tools include the AWWA J100-21 Standard for Risk and Resilience Management of Water and Wastewater Systems, and the EPA\u2019s Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (VSAT). The J100 methodology is based on a seven-step process to assess risk and resilience and develop options for long-term resilience management.<\/p>\n 7-Step Risk, Resilience Management Process<\/strong><\/p>\n Black & Veatch has synthesized the spectrum of available tools and processes and developed a practical, spreadsheet-based tool to assist in the completion of an RRA. Our in-house team of experts has assisted water utilities of all sizes across the U.S. in their initial certifications, providing them with a repeatable and structured process based on the AWWA J100 standard for completing their RRA and ERP development and updates. AWIA tools developed by Black & Veatch use the J100 methodology as a general framework and are further strengthened by VSAT tool features, a suite of cybersecurity assessment tools, lessons learned from numerous AWIA assessments, and the multitude of AWIA guidance documents provided by the USEPA over the initial AWIA certification period.<\/p>\n Implementing a Successful Resilience Program<\/strong><\/p>\n In the annual surveys that inform Black Veatch\u2019s Strategic Directions Reports for the water sector, resilience has been consistently ranked within the top three challenges utilities are facing. The good news: studies show every $1 spent on risk mitigation reduces future disaster costs by $4 to $6. A range of solutions are available through Black & Veatch for different scales, complexities and maturities of organizations to help utilities define their resilience \u201cstance,\u201d assess their current maturity and invest in practical, actionable improvement plans to meet their resilience goals cost-effectively.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
More than 100,000<\/p>\n\n
March 31, 2025<\/li>\n
September 30, 2025<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
50,000 to 99,999<\/p>\n\n
December 31, 2025<\/li>\n
June 30, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
3,301 to 49,999<\/p>\n\n
June 30, 2026<\/li>\n
December 31, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
What assets do I have? Which are critical?<\/li>\n
What threats and hazards should I consider?<\/li>\n
What happens to my assets if a threat or hazard happens?<\/li>\n
What is the likelihood that a hazard will strike my facility?<\/li>\n
What are my vulnerabilities that would allow a threat or hazard to cause these consequences?<\/li>\n
What is my current level of risk and resilience?<\/li>\n
What options do I have to reduce risks and increase resilience? What are the benefits and costs?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n