Develop or Update an Emergency Response Plan
Emergency Response Plan (ERP) Template and Instructions
On this page:
- ERP Template and Instructions for Drinking Water Utilities
- ERP Template and Instructions for Wastewater Utilities
An ERP describes 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.
The ERP Template and Instructions PDF document for drinking water and wastewater utilities features an embedded blank ERP template in Word format that can be easily accessed and modified by utility personnel to meet their own water system needs.
The EPA welcomes comments on the ERP Template and Instructions. Based on feedback, the EPA may revise the document in the future. Please email dwresilience@epa.gov to provide feedback.
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ERP Template and Instructions for Drinking Water Utilities
This template and instructions will assist water utilities with developing an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) in accordance with America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA) Section 2013(b). The Act requires community water systems serving populations greater than 3,300 to develop or update an ERP that incorporates findings of their risk assessment. Please note that the instructions have recently been updated in August 2021 to include a new appendix containing additional practical mitigation options for utilities.
AWIA Section 2013 Certification Requirements
Community water systems serving populations greater than 3,300 must certify to U.S. EPA that they have completed an ERP that incorporates findings of the risk and resilience assessment conducted under AWIA Section 2013(a) and meets the criteria outlined under AWIA Section 2013(b). U.S. EPA strongly recommends you electronically submit your community water system’s ERP certification statement by clicking the link below.
Alternate certification statement submittal options are accessible by clicking the link below.
AWIA requires you to submit only a certification of completion of an risk and resilience assessment and an ERP; therefore, do not submit the risk and resilience assessment and ERP documents to U.S. EPA.
NOTE: The PDF files use Javascript. In order to access the Word template that is imbedded within the PDF, please download the PDF file to your computer and open the PDF file with a PDF reader. If you are still having problems with accessing the Word template, email dwresilience@epa.gov.
ERP Template and Instructions for Wastewater Utilities
This template and instructions will assist wastewater utilities with developing an ERP. An ERP describes your utility’s strategies, resources, plans, and procedures 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.
NOTE: The PDF files use Javascript. In order to access the Word template that is imbedded within the PDF, please download the PDF file to your computer and open the PDF file with a PDF reader. If you are still having problems with accessing the Word template, email dwresilience@epa.gov.