The American Water Works Association (AWWA) encourages water utilities to adopt an all-hazards risk and resilience management strategy to ensure continuity of service by integrating emergency preparedness and security practices into the reliable delivery of water services and the protection of public health and the environment.
Utilities should integrate emergency preparedness and security into their culture, including, but not limited to, establishing key partnerships with public health, law enforcement, relevant regulatory authorities, relevant regulatory agencies, and other emergency-response entities at the local state/provincial and federal levels. It is the responsibility of every utility manager, supervisor and worker to be aware and vigilant in supporting risk and resilience management protocols. All water leaders and staff should apply these protocols in their daily work process, following an all-hazards approach which includes mitigating risks from physical and cyber threats that could threaten public health and the environment, and compromise continuity of service.
Practices specified in this policy statement are consistent with all other pertinent AWWA policy statements.
Adopted by the Board of Directors June 22, 2006. Revisions approved by the Board of Directors June 12, 2011, and Jan. 14, 2015, April 20, 2020.