Resiliency for Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems
Minimizing service disruptions by preparing for hazards and adapting to changing conditions.
Drinking water and wastewater infrastructure are critical functions within a community. With the increasing frequency of severe weather events these systems are more at risk, however by preparing for projected changes, facilities will be more resilient and will minimize or eliminate service disruptions.
By proactively preparing for impacts from severe weather and other hazards instead of reactively responding to events and disasters, unnecessary water infrastructure costs will be avoided over the lifetime of the assets and facilities. This shift from short-term recovery to long-term preparedness minimizes the impact of emergency events, allows for more cohesive system planning, further informs decision-making, increases the ability to manage risks, and allows municipalities to better forecast budgetary needs.
Facilities across New Hampshire are at an increasing risk to inland and coastal flooding, extreme temperatures, drought, high wind events, severe weather and more. Learn more about Climate Change.
The Path to Resilience
Resilience begins with identifying hazards to drinking water and wastewater utilities and assessing and prioritizing vulnerabilities. Assessment results are then used to develop and implement an adaptation plan, and once implemented the actions are monitored and reassessed. See our Path to Resilience infographic for a closer look at the process map.
Useful Resources
To help facilities understand risks to climatic events and assess vulnerabilities to increase system resilience, federal agencies, partners, and other entities are creating tools, updating resources, and hosting trainings and webinars. For the most up-to-date resources, visit our Resilience Resource Hub.
Federal Flood Management Standard
The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) is being updated to include language on incorporating resilience for current and future flood hazards. For more information visit Federal FFRMS Floodplain Determination Job Aid and NHDES Understanding the FFRMS for State Revolving Fund Projects.
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments Project
Climate change vulnerability assessments are underway at several water and wastewater utilities and a framework is being developed for conducting future assessments. To read more about this project, view Integrating Resilience & Adaptation with Asset Management.
Incorporating vulnerability assessment in your plan
Facilities should incorporate known issues from past severe weather events or findings from vulnerability assessments into their local hazard mitigation plan. Guidance on how to complete a local hazard mitigation plan is included in FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide.
NPDES Permits for Wastewater Systems
EPA is rolling out new requirements for adaptation plans in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for wastewater systems. Learn more by viewing EPA’s guidance document at the link below.
On April 19th, a Major Disaster was Declared for Grafton and Rockingham counties for the 1/9-1/14/2024 storm event. Communities in these counties are eligible for Public Assistance. All counties in the state are encouraged to apply for Hazard Mitigation Grants. To learn more visit NH HSEM’s page on Presidential Disaster Declarations and Hazard Mitigation Grants.
Mitigation
Activities that reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions decreases the amount and rate of future climatic changes.
Adaptation
Adjusting to withstand changes and hazards. This decreases damage to a system.
Resilience
The ability to withstand or recover quickly from severe weather and hazards. This limits service disruptions.
Related Content
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
The water quality of drinking water sources can be affected by wastewater treatment plants and storm events. When the combined flow of raw sewage and stormwater exceeds the capacity of the conveyance system or wastewater treatment plant, flows are diverted to surface waters via outfalls. To learn more see the Combined Sewer Overflow fact sheet. EPA also has a Stormwater Best Management Practice on Preventing Stormwater Contamination from Sanitary Sewage and a page on Eliminating Sanitary Sewer 0verflows in New England.