EPA’s Community-Based Water Resiliency Initiative: An Important New Tool for The Public Health Sector

1. EPA’s Community-Based Water Resiliency Initiative:An Important New Tool for The Public Health Sector CDC PHIN Partner Call June 1, 2011

2. Water: Critical for Public Health • Healthcare and Public Health Sector relies on Water Sector for: • Sanitation • Drinking water • Cooling equipment • Manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment • Hospitals, dialysis centers, physicians offices, labs

3. Growing problem: Aging Infrastructure • Approximately 240,000 water main breaks each year in the US • Breaks can allow contaminants to enter the drinking water supply • -MMWR February 18, 2011 Vol.60 No.6

4. Natural Disasters Many Other Causes of Failure Criminal and Terrorist Acts Failures in Interdependent Sectors

5. Community Health Impact of Extended Loss of Water Service* • 2010 Freeze/thaw event in Alabama--water pipes break leading to systemic water loss for 18,000 residents for 12 days • Outbreak of Acute Gastrointestinal Illness in 12-15%* * of households most affected by service interruption • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigation found: • Lack of communication between water utilities, customers and public health department • Lack of preparedness for water emergencies • CDC recommended: • More communication between Water and Public Health Sectors • More public health agency involvement in water emergency preparedness *MMWR February 18, 2011 Vol.60 No.6 **National background prevalence for one month is 5.1%

6. CDC findings from investigation Public health agencies might help to prevent or mitigate the health effects from future water emergencies by: • Improving community and household preparedness • Developing and implementing effective communication strategies to reach diverse communities before and during such emergencies.

7. Specific CDC recommendations for public health agency involvement in water emergency preparedness Develop: • A water emergency response protocol • A water distribution plan • A community communications toolkit for water emergencies Provide: • Guidance for household preparedness • Guidance for institutional preparedness

8. Community-Based Water Resiliency InitiativeSupportsPHIN Mission and CDC Recommendations

9. CBWR addresses “What If…?” • Increases community preparedness by: • Improving integration of the Water Sector into community emergency preparedness • Increasing understanding of critical interdependencies • Highlighting benefits of preparedness • Fosters collaboration between utilities and all community members: • Public health officials • City/county managers • Public works officials • Emergency responders • Business Community • Citizens • Electronic toolgives communities over 350 resources to develop and implement water resiliency plans

10. Products CBWR Electronic Tool • Stakeholder specific modules (5) • Healthcare and Public Health • Emergency Services • State/Tribal Primacy Agencies • Local Officials /Concerned Citizens • Water Utilities • Toolbox >350 resources • User-specific, detailed summary reports Outreach Materials • Interdependencies fact sheets (3) • Healthcare & Public Health • General Interdependencies • Emergency Services • Tri-fold overview brochure • Poster (hard copy & interactive web version)

11. Return users can go straight to the CBWR Toolbox!

19. Next Steps/Opportunities for Collaboration • Ground truth the concept • Increased input/suggestions from Public Health sector • Develop Water Roundtable Wizard

20. Water Emergency Roundtable WizardBased on ASDWA/EPA Region 5Water Emergency Roundtable Discussion Guide Post-Roundtable Products • Thank you letters • Attendee list template • Action item tracking list • Tips for keeping momentum going • Sample final reports and templates Planning and Logistics • Suggested goals and objectives • List of potential partners • Suggested planning team members • List of major planning process steps and planning team roles • Sample emails to gauge interest • Sample telephone scripts for recruiting participants • Suggested meeting locations/tip sheet Meeting Materials • Invitation letters • Registration tracking tools • Sample agendas • Sample presentations • Required resources checklist • Sign-in table tips and tools • Facilitators guide • Tabletop exercises • Discussion questions • Evaluation Form

21. Challenges • Community-based resiliency = relatively new concept • Global economic crisis means water security has lower priority • Reliability of water services often taken for granted • Many do not recognize the importance of water preparedness

22. EPA’s Community-Based Water Resiliency Initiative:Communities, as a whole, are more resilient in the event of a water service interruption Website: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/communities/index.cfm

23. California Department of Public Health • EPA Region 9 grant provides for conducting an eight-hour training course in June 2011 on Water Sector Emergency Operations Center Train-the-Trainer Course • Now using GIS to map the service areas of California utilities which could: • Help improve emergency response times • Determine if disease outbreaks are due to water contamination • Contact Craig Wolf, CA DPH

24. WaterISAC • WaterISAC= Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center • Public health officials and other state and federal partners from all sectors are encouraged to subscribe! • Secure, web-based network • All-hazards information to help water utility managers and staff make security and emergency management planning decisions • How to Subscribe: To receive a free12-month WaterISAC Pro subscription visit http://www.waterisac.org. WaterISAC Water Security Network

25. For More Information NushatThomas, CBWR Project Lead Thomas.Nushat@epa.gov 202-564-4674 Gretchen Giannelli, MPH, ORISE Fellow Giannelli.Gretchen@epa.gov 202-564-0242 Laura Flynn, Team Leader Flynn.Laura@epa.gov 202-564-4611