Revised Policy Statement: Electric Power Reliability for Public Water Supply and Wastewater Utilities

AWWA Policy: Revised Policy Statement: Electric Power Reliability for Public Water Supply and Wastewater Utilities

April 9, 2024
 

The following revised AWWA Policy Statement on Electric Power Reliability for Public Water Supply and Wastewater Utilities has been approved by the Technical and Educational Council for member comment.

Comments on the policy statement will be reviewed by AWWA staff and forwarded to the Executive Committee if the comments are minor, or referred back to the originating body if the comments are substantive. Policies forwarded to the Executive Committee will be reviewed for approval and final action. 

Electric Power Reliability for Public Water Supply and Wastewater Utilities

AWWA believes that every water and wastewater utility should set uninterrupted service as a high priority operating goal and include potential service interruptions in its risk assessment and resiliency plan. Avoiding extended interruptions in water service is essential for fire safety, sustaining local economies, maintaining public trust, and protecting public health and the environment. 

To provide uninterrupted service, water and wastewater systems require an acceptable level of electric power reliability. Every utility is unique with respect to its vulnerability to electric supply disruption and must undertake a critical assessment of the issue based on specific local conditions. For some utilities, even a small electric service outage can have significant consequences. Redundancy of supply or backup generating capacity has in the past provided a reasonable level of energy reliability. Climate change requires a more intensive assessment of potential vulnerabilities to energy resources.

Utilities should be prepared to adapt to the increasing frequency of extreme climate events that have been demonstrated to adversely impact the reliability and resiliency of both the electrical grid and the fuel resupply network during and immediately after such events. 

It is advised that facilities consider the technological and financial resources being deployed to support the electrification of the national electric grid.  Distributed Energy Resources in the form of renewable generation and/or advance energy storage systems should be evaluated for primary energy generation, energy management and backup energy, with respect to cost and risk.  Financial resources that can mitigate the direct cost of projects are periodically made available through the legislation act at both the state and federal level. Prior to initiating new projects agencies should investigate any applicable funding sources available. 

In the case of new facilities and/or their components, utilities should determine whether their designs need to conform to the latest applicable regulations, executive orders, and legislation with regards to electrical practices, safety, and security. Conformance to these requirements prevents adverse impact to the economy, public health, and safety due to the destruction or incapacitation of vital infrastructure facilities. 

Every public water supply and wastewater utility should assess the likelihood and consequences of a power supply disruption, identify critical vulnerabilities, and consider alternative power or supply redundancy to mitigate service disruptions lasting up to 72 hours or longer if fire safety, local economies, public trust, public health, environment, could be impacted. As part of this process, careful assessment must be performed to quantify how much water service (such as minimum daily demand) can be assured, given local circumstances. In addition, every utility should have a robust emergency response plan that includes a public communications plan tailored to its needs and circumstances, for use in case of an electric supply disruption.

Adopted by the Board of Directors June 8, 1975, revised Jan. 31, 1982, and Jan. 28, 1990, and June 11, 2000, and June 13, 2004, and Jan. 17, 2010, Jan 19, 2014, and October 28, 2019.

Submit comments by May 9, 2024.