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  1. Home
  2. Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities

Drought Response and Recovery for Water Utilities

On this page:
  • Explore the Drought Response and Recovery Guide
  • Learn From Others - Case Studies Map and Videos

Explore the Drought Response and Recovery Guide

This interactive, user-friendly guide provides worksheets, best practices, videos and key resources for responding to drought emergencies and building long-term resilience. The guide contains four main sections: 
 
  • Staffing, response plans and funding 
  • Water supply and demand management
  • Communication and partnerships
  • Case studies and videos

Explore the Drought Response and Recovery Guide


Learn From Others - Case Studies Map and Videos 

The case studies map and videos GeoPlatform tells the story of how nine diverse small- to medium-sized utilities in California, Texas, Georgia, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma and Maine were challenged by drought impacts, and how they were able to successfully respond to and recover from drought. The case studies map and videos GeoPlatform also features three additional videos describing how utilities addressed specific drought challenges, including: 
 
  • Reducing customer demand
  • Managing water supplies
  • Partnerships

Visit the Utilities Stories tab for short descriptions from water systems like you who have shared their own drought response stories.

Share Your Own Drought Story
The case studies map and videos GeoPlatform now also gives utilities across the county a way to tell their own drought story. Contact EPA at WICRD-Outreach@epa.gov and EPA will work with you to add your story to the site.
 

Click on the map below to access the geoplatform and watch the videos as utility personnel recount in their own words the keys to successfully mitigating drought impacts. 

Drought StoryMap

Related Information

  • Drought Guide Fact Sheet
  • Drought Incident Action Checklist
  • Drought webinar for states
  • Building flood resilience
  • U.S. Drought Portal

Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities

  • Plan For Emergencies
    • Develop or Update an Emergency Response Plan
    • Emergency Drinking Water Supply Guidance
    • Incident Action Checklists
    • Water and Wastewater Supply Chain Resilience
    • Water Sector Guide to Telecommunications During Power Outages
    • Prepare for Position Navigation and Timing Risks
  • Hazard Resilience
    • Build Earthquake Resilience
    • Build Flood Resilience
    • Build Pandemic Resilience
    • Build Power Resilience
    • Build Wildfire Resilience
    • Respond to Drought
  • Mutual Aid and Assistance for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities
    • Learn About Water/Wastewater Agency Response Networks (WARNs)
    • Join a WARN
    • Access WARN Training Tools
  • Decontamination
    • Documents to Guide Remediation
    • Sampling Methods and Decontamination Technologies
    • Response Protocol Toolbox
  • Water Utility Communication During Emergency Response
Contact Us About Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 13, 2025
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