Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT)
EPA’s SWIFT initiative works directly with drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities, technical assistance providers, and other water sector stakeholders across the Nation to increase system resilience to natural hazards and disasters.
Utility Technical Assistance
Through technical assistance, SWIFT provides location-specific natural hazard data and practical risk assessment tools to identify and evaluate resilient strategies. With this support, SWIFT helps promote a better understanding of natural hazard threats and their impacts on vulnerable assets, providing the guidance needed to make risk-informed infrastructure and investment decisions. SWIFT also offers approaches to infrastructure financing, making necessary connections that help utilities fund the implementation of their disaster resilience projects.
Water sector utilities can request free technical assistance through SWIFT. Click the button below to send your request today!
2025 American Relief Act Disaster Supplemental Appropriation for Water Emergencies for Hurricanes Helene and Milton
EPA released a memorandum announcing $60 million in disaster relief supplemental funding to address water emergencies in states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and all impacted Tribes. This funding comes from the American Relief Act, and is appropriated as Safe Drinking Water Act Section 1442(b) and Clean Water Emergency allocations for grants and technical assistance.
EPA Grant Funding Available to Increase Drinking Water System Resilience
EPA has announced over $9 million in grant funding through the new competitive Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability grant program, which will assist medium and large size public water systems with protecting drinking water sources from natural hazards, extreme weather events, and cybersecurity threats. The application period is open until October 6, 2025, and can be found on www.grants.gov under opportunity number EPA-OW-OGWDW-25-01, assistance listing number 66.488.
Tools and Resources
- Resilient Strategies Guide: A free online tool for water sector utilities beginning to assess potential risks to their systems.
- VSAT: A free online tool for water sector utilities pursing comprehensive risk assessment and resilience planning.
- Hazard Maps: Explore data resources to enhance understanding and assess risks of natural hazards.
- Case Studies: Learn about water utilities’ natural hazard concerns, risk assessments, and adaptive measures.
- Funding Utility Resilience Projects: Review available funding programs, technical assistance options, and other financial resources to help implement water utility resilience projects.
Upcoming Workshops and Webinars
Register for an upcoming Water Infrastructure and Cyber Resilience Division (WICRD) event in the list below. If you have any questions about these events, please contact WICRD-Outreach@epa.gov.
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EPA Office Hours for Safe Drinking Water Act Section 1433
Office Hours in September 2025 to assist community water systems (CWSs) with questions on completing or certifying Risk and Resilience Assessments (RRAs) and Emergency Response Plans (ERPs).
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Safe Drinking Water Act Section 1433 Best Practices
EPA Webinar on Safe Drinking Water Act Section 1433 Best Practices based on insights from EPA inspectors in the field.
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Colorado Water and Emergency Services Sectors Technical Assistance Workshop
Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment for a free virtual workshop on Zoom to learn more about planning for, responding to, and recovering from wildfires.
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EPA Utility Talk
Join EPA for a Utility Talk featuring EJ Water Cooperative, a rural Illinois water and wastewater provider serving over 75,000 people. Hear how they strengthened the cybersecurity posture of their IT and OT systems and enhanced their cyber resilience.
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Cybersecurity Procurement Checklist Webinar
Join EPA for an informative webinar on our new Cybersecurity Procurement Checklist, a resource designed to help water and wastewater utilities incorporate cybersecurity into the procurement process.
Contact SWIFT to ask a question or for more information.