Community Wastewater Treatment Systems

Before an emergency or a temporary problem with a community wastewater treatment system, a community wastewater treatment facility should have an emergency plan in the event that service is disrupted. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a Primer for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Systems (PDF, 4.19 MB, 30 pages) that contains useful information on the basics of municipal wastewater treatment plants and disinfection processes.

The EPA has prepared documents to help public wastewater utility facilities with planning, training, and responding to emergency incidents.

Before an Emergency

EPA's emergency preparations for a community drinking water or wastewater system include the following:

• Identify and schedule emergency operations and cleanup crews. This could consist of heavy equipment and extra personnel to assist in clean-ups.
• Adjust work schedules so that key staff members are onsite or can be reached to keep all services operational if the facility remains online or to shutdown and startup facilities if and when necessary.
• Notify state and federal levels of the Emergency Management Agency of the location and telephone numbers of the emergency personnel owner/operator for the water system operations. Confirm and prepare an emergency water supply, if necessary.
• Review emergency response plans and make sure emergency contacts are current.
• Ahead of time, set up clear lines of communication with local police and fire department, in case of an injury or other emergencies. Request that local law enforcement check on any water staff that may remain onsite at the water system.
• Establish contacts to request emergency water supply, if necessary. This may include trucking in of purchased water from another potable water supply.
• Make arrangements with the local power utility to be prepared to restore power to the water system as a priority customer.
• Pre-arrange to purchase materials and supplies and to borrow/lease heavy equipment needed to make repairs to the water system. This could include piping, valves, chemical feed-line tubing, and hydrants.
• Make arrangements to have materials and chemicals delivered as soon as it is safe and you are ready for operation.
• Establish the appropriate media for customers to access information and press advisories. For possible boil water advisory status, do the following:
  • Have a “Boil Water Notice” prepared, including multilingual.
  • Have emergency disinfection of drinking water procedures prepared for customers
  • Have “Shelter-in-Place” guidelines ready in case of release of hazardous materials. This is information to be provided to the public that may need to remain indoors
• Stock up on first-aid supplies, batteries, flashlights, and cellular phones or other wireless communication devices. Check all normal and emergency communication equipment and charge or replace batteries.
• Stock an adequate supply (one week) of non-perishable food and water for any essential persons that remain on site or are considered first responders to the water system.
• Establish alternative transportation strategies for rotating in core employees to the facility if high water prevents travel. Personnel should bring a jump bag with them, which contains change of clothes, sleeping bag, flashlights, extra batteries, medications, and other essentials.
• Make sure all essential personnel are trained to shut down and start up system in case of emergency.
• Notify the state level of the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and the Water/wastewater primacy agency if a plant is taken off-line or the water system is inoperable.
• Review distribution maps to ensure they are up-to-date with isolation valves properly identified. Extra copies may be necessary for staff working in the field.

For a complete list of emergency preparations for community wastewater systems, please visit EPA's Suggested Pre-Emergency Activities for Water and Wastewater Facilities. The National Environmental Services website contains resources and guides for small community drinking water systems.

After an Emergency

After a water-related emergency, community water treatment facilities may have to increase the amount and time for the disinfection of drinking water. EPA's emergency response for a community drinking water system includes the following:

• Line up and schedule emergency operations and cleanup crews.
• Maintain contact with state and federal levels of the Emergency Management Agency of location and telephone numbers of the emergency operating center or command post for the utility.
• For public water systems, be sure to line up contacts to request emergency water supply, if necessary.
• Consult public health officials and your primacy agency for public notifications (i.e., boil water, do not drink).
• Notify customers and media where to access information and press advisories.
• Arrange for food and water for the crews.
• Maintain clear lines of communication with local authorities, such as police and fire in case of an injury or other emergency.
• Make arrangements with the local power utility to restore power as a primary customer.
• Make arrangements with local companies to purchase materials and supplies and to borrow/lease heavy equipment needed to make repairs to the plant.
• Confirm with local companies that materials and chemicals can be delivered to the plant as soon as it is safe and units are repaired and ready for operation.
• Plan for appropriate disposition of personal protection equipment (PPE) and other equipment.

For a complete list of emergency response for community drinking water systems, please visit EPA's Suggested Post Emergency Activities for Water and Wastewater Facilities.