The EPA Is Seeking New Communities to Assist with Wastewater Infrastructure Breakdowns

If your municipality is struggling to provide adequate municipal sanitation services to your community, or perhaps your wastewater infrastructure is struggling to recover from a natural hazard event, you should know that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is still seeking new communities across the US to add to its Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap (CAWAG) Initiative. The CAWAG initiative originally began as a pilot project in 2022 as a partnership with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help address critical wastewater challenges in small and rural communities. 

The pilot program consisted of 11 communities and experienced encouraging success in making strides towards ameliorating the barriers to adequate sanitation in these locations. The results of the pilot led to a commitment in 2024 to expand to 150 communities across the nation. As of last month, the CAWAG team has made it more than halfway to this new goal: 87 communities are now receiving support! They can be seen across the map above.

However, outreach efforts to reach a full 150 communities continue. The EPA is calling for assistance in identifying potentially qualifying communities and encouraging them to apply for assistance through CAWAG, particularly in states that have not yet had a community participate in the initiative. The issues experienced in such communities may range from widespread residential septic backup and/or sewage pooling, struggles by the town to provide adequate sanitation services, or difficulties rebuilding wastewater and septic systems following natural disasters. 

CAWAG communities receive no-cost hands-on technical assistance from experienced TAPs, funding application support, and solutions-oriented help in addressing their unique wastewater needs. The primary goal of CAWAG support is full collaboration with each community in order to identify the best and most practical solutions for all involved.  

Specific examples of no-cost technical assistance support that have been provided include:

• Conducting a formal assessment of community wastewater needs
• Evaluating the feasibility of potential wastewater solutions
• Identifying funding options such as grants and financing
• Aiding the completion of preliminary engineering and paperwork requirements
• Assisting local government in establishing ordinances for wastewater management

If you know of communities near you that could qualify, we encourage you to pass on the word about CAWAG. There is no deadline to apply to the initiative, as communities are selected on a rolling basis. The application is relatively simple: all that is necessary is to fill out the brief, 17-question Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) Request Form that is available on the EPA’s website. Local leaders, homeowners, and utilities can apply on the behalf of their community, in addition to states, Tribes, and territories themselves.

Questions about the initiative can be directed to the EPA’s CAWAG team lead Zach Lowenstein at Lowenstein.Zachary@epa.gov, or to SepticHelp@epa.gov. Mr. Lowenstein will also accept community referrals through his email. 

More resources:

• Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap at the US EPA
• Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) at the US EPA 
• Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) Request Form at the US EPA
• Closing America’s Wastewater Access Initiative Expansion Fact Sheet (English) 
• Closing America’s Wastewater Access Initiative Expansion Fact Sheet (Spanish)

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly critical for water and wastewater utilities as digital connectivity becomes more common. Now that more systems are linked than ever before, the threat of cyberattacks continues to grow. Staying informed and proactive is key so we’ve gathered a collection of resources designed to strengthen your cybersecurity awareness.

The list below includes guidance from U.S. EPA and CISA, training recordings, and tools to help utilities assess and improve their cybersecurity knowledge. Explore these links to strengthen your utility’s defenses and ensure the continued safety and reliability of our water systems.

Further Resources...

• Cybersecurity Trivia (docx) | U.S. EPA
• Spot The Phishing Email Test (docx) | U.S. EPA
• Is Your Utility Cyber Aware? | U.S. EPA
• Cybersecurity Assessments | U.S. EPA
• Incident Response Training | CISA
• Cybersecurity 101 Training for Water Systems Webinar Recording | U.S. EPA
• Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023 Webinar Series | CISA
• Cyber Incident Reporting Factsheet | U.S. EPA
  • Report Cybersecurity Incident Here | CISA
• Sign Up for EPA Water Sector Alerts Here | U.S. EPA
• Basic Cybersecurity Measures for Water and Wastewater Systems in Massachusetts -Virtual Course | WaterOperator.org, MassDEP

Throughout October, EPA will host webinars to share sector-specific data and trends, providing tools, best practices, and training opportunities for water utilities, system operators, IT professionals, and local leaders.

The Impact of Winter Weather on Water Systems

With winter weather upon us, water systems face increased challenges. The combination of freezing temperatures, increased water demand, and potential infrastructure vulnerabilities can significantly impact the quality and reliability of drinking water. Understanding these challenges and how to mitigate them is crucial for ensuring safe and consistent water supply during the colder months.

Freezing Temperatures and Infrastructure

One of the primary concerns during winter is the risk of pipes freezing and bursting. When water inside pipes freezes, it expands, which can cause pipes to crack or burst. This not only leads to water loss but also poses a risk of contamination if the integrity of the water system is compromised. To prevent this, water utilities often implement measures such as:

• Insulating Pipes and Infrastructure: Ensure that pipes are properly insulated and that heating systems are in place to maintain a stable temperature in critical areas.
• Regular Maintenance: Conduct regular inspections and maintenance of water systems, including checking for leaks and ensuring that all equipment is in good working order.
• Heating Systems: Installing heating systems in critical areas to maintain a stable temperature.
• Communication with Customers: Encourage homeowners to be proactive about protecting their pipes from freezing in colder months.

Increased Water Demand

Winter weather can lead to increased water demand for various reasons, including the need for heating systems that use water, such as boilers and radiators. Additionally, people tend to use more water for hot showers and baths during colder months. This increased demand can strain the water supply system, making it essential for utilities to manage resources efficiently.

Contamination Risks

Snow and ice can carry pollutants, like salt for de-icing roads, that may enter the water supply through runoff. When snow melts, it can pick up contaminants from roads, agricultural fields, and other surfaces, which then flow into water sources. To address this, water treatment facilities must be equipped to handle higher levels of pollutants and ensure that the water is safe for consumption.

Mitigation Strategies

To ensure the reliability and safety of drinking water systems during winter, several strategies can be employed. Organizations should establish a comprehensive cold weather safety plan. This plan should outline precautions to take before, during, and after the onset of freezing temperatures. Key elements include: 

• Winterize water systems and ensure that exposed plumbing is properly drained. 
• Inspect building heating systems to keep areas with plumbing above 40°F. 
• Clear access to fire hydrants, sprinkler system rooms, and life safety equipment.
• Monitor and manage snow accumulation on roofs and around facilities to prevent damage and ensure safety.
• Review emergency evacuation procedures to ensure that snow, ice and cold weather conditions are adequately addressed.

Winter weather presents unique challenges for water systems, but with proactive preparation and effective management, these challenges can be mitigated. By understanding the risks and implementing appropriate strategies, we can ensure that our drinking water remains safe and reliable throughout the winter season.

The Importance of Preparedness for Water and Wastewater Systems

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is observed each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could impact water and wastewater systems. In recognition of NPM, we have linked some valuable resilience resources below. These resources were created by U.S. EPA to help systems better navigate disasters and emergencies.

Develop a Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA)

It's important for utilities to prepare for both natural and human-made disasters by assessing for the greatest risks. Developing a Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) helps you systematically assess your utility's risks. 

• EPA has two tools to choose from to help you develop an RRA: the Small System RRA Checklist (recommended for small systems) and Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (recommended for large systems.)

Prepare an Emergency Response Plan (ERP)

Once you assess for risks to your utility, the next step is to create an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) to outline how you will prepare for, or respond to, the risks identified in your RRA. 

• EPA's ERP Template and Instructions will walk you step-by-step through how to develop your ERP. 
• Read our blog post on WaterOperator.org for more resources on emergency operations and preparing an ERP

Community drinking water systems serving more than 3,300 people are required to have both an RRA and ERP that are updated every five years. However, EPA encourages all water and wastewater systems to plan for disasters they may face by developing an RRA and ERP!

Minimize the Impact of Weather-Related Disasters

EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) Storm Surge Inundation Map can help your utility prepare for the effects of a hurricane. The map has been updated to provide the most current information on past and present storms. The “real-time” map shows storm surge projections as advisories are released, complementing the “worst-case” surge projections and enhancing disaster preparedness.

EPA also has a mobile app, Water Utility Response On-The-Go App Plus, that provides information and tools that water utilities can use to prepare for an emergency. Users can track severe weather, contact response partners, and find up-to-date information on local emergencies. Once the disaster has passed, the tool can be used to assess damage and complete incident action checklists.

U.S. EPA's Water Network Tool for Resilience

Researchers from U.S. EPA and Sandia National Laboratories developed the Water Network Tool for Resilience (WNTR), a "comprehensive scientific software package to help assess a drinking water systems’ resilience to natural disasters. The software improves upon already available capabilities by fully integrating hydraulic and water quality simulation, damage estimates and response actions, and resilience metrics into a single platform. The software is available as an open-source software package and can be applied to a wide range of disruptive incidents and repair strategies." 

Utilities can incorporate WNTR into their existing systems by simulating various scenarios, like power outages or critical pipe breaks, to assess impacts and identify potential repair strategies. WNTR can be utilized in the development of Emergency Response Plans by helping to evaluate and prioritize preparedness strategies and response actions to enhance resilience of the utility. It can also be used to assist in meeting legal requirements, such as those set out in America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, by identifying system vulnerabilities and determining mitigation measures.

The Water Network Tool for Resilience (WNTR) integrates several key features:

• Hydraulic and Water Quality Simulation: WNTR combines hydraulic simulations with water quality analysis to understand how water moves and changes within the distribution system.
• Damage Estimates and Response Actions: It estimates potential damages from disasters, helps utilities to understand how infrastructure damage might occur over time, and evaluates the effectiveness of response actions.
• Resilience Metrics: The tool includes metrics to assess the resilience of water systems under various scenarios.
• Compatibility with EPANET: WNTR is compatible with EPANET, a widely used software for modeling water distribution systems, enhancing its utility and accuracy.

Access the WNTR tool and relevant webinar recordings on U.S. EPA's website.

Emergency Operations and ERPs

Community water systems serving populations greater than 3,300 are required to have a plan in place for emergencies in accordance with America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA) section 2013(b), which amended Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) section 1433(b). According to U.S. EPA, Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) describe "strategies, resources, plans, and procedures utilities can use to prepare for and respond to an incident, natural or man-made, that threatens life, property, or the environment. Incidents can range from small main breaks or localized flooding to large scale hurricanes, earthquakes or system contamination, among other examples." ERPs must outline the steps a system should take to ensure the continuation of service during an emergency. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has provided an O&M Manual Template that can be used as a starting point in developing a manual from scratch or making improvements to existing emergency O&M procedures. 

They also provided the following list of emergency situations and provisions that community water systems need to address in their ERPs: 

• Loss of source
• Loss of water supply due to major component failure
• Damage to power supply equipment or loss of power
• Contamination of water in the distribution system from backflow
• Collapse of a reservoir, reservoir roof or pumphouse structure
• A break in a transmission or distribution line
• Chemical or microbiological contamination of the water supply

Within these sections of your utility's manual, include provisions for providing alternate water, notice procedures for regulatory agencies and users, disinfection and testing techniques, critical component identification, spare parts inventory and staff training in emergency response procedures.

Cybersecurity Threats: Lessons Learned from WaterISAC

In July of 2024, WaterISAC sent out an advisory to its members advising them to take caution when opening emails from seemingly "trusted" sources. This was sent after WaterISAC was made aware of a second phishing attempt against Maine water operators and well drillers that was disguised as an information verification form from Maine.gov. 

A screenshot of the attempted phishing email is shown below:

Now that phishing attempts are so common across the water sector, it is important to be vigilant when opening emails and clicking any links within. WaterISAC provided a list of lessons that can be learned from incidents like this, as well as resources to help water and wastewater systems get guidance on how to strengthen cybersecurity measures. These lessons and resources are shared below:

Lessons Learned

• Share Information on Threats. In these cases, state agencies quickly sent out a broadcast alert to targeted audiences warning of the phishing attempt.
• Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT).  There is a lot of information on the internet about our water systems. It is useful to know what public information is available. In some cases, detailed and sensitive information can be removed. In other cases, the information is intentionally part of the public record. Therefore, we need to be aware of this class of data so we are not fooled into trusting whoever has it because we believe only privileged sources have access to it.
• Practice Phishing Drills. Part of every utility’s cybersecurity awareness training should include regular phishing drills for staff. CISA has free resources to assist, such as, Teach Employees to Avoid Phishing.
• Not Sure, Call. If you are not sure that the source of an email is legitimate, call the supposed sender through previously established phone numbers to confirm the request’s validity.
• Fall for a Phish, Contact Your IT Department. If you realize after the fact that you fell for a phishing email, or you think you might have, call your information technology group to find out what to do. Everyone except the attacker, will be glad you did.

Additional Water and Wastewater Systems Sector Guidance Resources:

• Recognize and Report Phishing | CISA
• Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Water and Wastewater Utilities | WaterISAC
• Top Cyber Actions for Securing Water Systems | CISA
• Water and Wastewater Sector - Incident Response Guide | CISA
• CISA's Free Cyber Vulnerability Scanning for Water Utilities | CISA
• Water and Wastewater Cybersecurity | CISA

Water Security/ Emergency Response Guides

Water and wastewater utilities are responsible for taking action to protect their infrastructure, security practices should be incorporated into a utility's everyday business functions. Activities such as fence-cutting and lock-picking (often dismissed as harmless) may be indications of more serious threats to a water or wastewater system. Utilities must be prepared to respond to this type of threat, as well as a wide range of other emergencies, including natural disasters and cyberattacks. Improved security preparations provide for a more effective and efficient response from your utility.

We have 1,220 resources (and counting) on Water Security/ Emergency Response in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents like a Community Water System Emergency Response Plan template, U.S. EPA's Water Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (WCAT), and guides on hazard mitigation for natural disasters, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Water Security/ Emergency Response within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Water Security/ Emergency Response." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

RCAP's Drop of Knowledge: Article Roundup #3

Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like wastewater, drinking water, policy, and infrastructure in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some featured articles are linked below:

• Assessing Your Collection System with a Pipeline Camera System
• Water System Achieves Compliance In One Year With Communities Unlimited’s Assistance
• Administrative Professionals and Their Continuous Contributions to Water and Wastewater Systems
• Staff in Nebraska is Helping to Build a Sustainable, Resilient Utility Workforce
• System Vulnerability Assessments and Emergency Response Plans
• Effective Communication with the Community

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.

Public Notification & Emergency Communication

Public Notification Rule is intended to ensure that consumers will always know if there is a problem with their drinking water. These notices immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health. They also notify customers if their water does not meet drinking water standards, the water system fails to test its water, or if the system has been granted a variance (use of less costly technology) or an exemption (more time to comply with a new regulation.) Consumer Confidence reports (CCRs) are an annual report of the status of the drinking water at a facility that are also required. However, CCRs do not necessarily report problems, but a status.

We have 731 resources (and counting) on Public Notification in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents about how states are responding to health advisories for water systems, ways to prepare for a drought related water shortage, advice for working with news media, boil water advisories during natural disasters, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Public Notification within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Public Notification." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.