Community-Based
   Water Resiliency
   Electronic Tool

   The CBWR electronic tool is a CD-based
   tool that will help communities begin to
   build their own unique CBWR program.
   The main component is a self-assessment
   tool to assist users with the steps involved
   with implementing a CBWR initiative.

   This self-assessment culminates in a
   summary report, providing stakeholders
   with an evaluation of their emergency
   preparedness and recommendations
   and tools for launching a water resiliency
   program in their community.

   The CBWR electronic tool also includes
   guidance on how to identify critical water
   users in a community and suggestions
   for engaging them in the design and
   implementation of CBWR efforts.
            Contact Us:
         Additional information on
      EPA's CBWR Initiative is available at
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity
  For additional information, please contact:
         WSD-outreach@epa.gov
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               United States
               Environmental Protection
               Agency
Community-Based
Water Resiliency
Initiative
         Water Preparedness

 Reliable drinking water and wastewater
 services are critical to communities,
 for consumption as well as to support
 delivery of other critical services; such as
 healthcare, transportation, and energy.
 In the event of a water service disruption,
 the health of a community, and the
 continuity of the many services a
 community provides, may be jeopardized.

 To reduce these risks, and their ensuing
 impacts, the U.S. Environmental Protection
 Agency (EPA) developed a holistic,
 community-wide approach to water
 infrastructure protection. Referred to as the
 Community-Based Water Resiliency (CBWR)
 Initiative, this effort focuses on identifying
 and developing a suite of tools and resources
 that can be successfully implemented by
 water utility owners/operators and the local
 communities they serve.

 CBWR tools can be  implemented at the local
 level, by local officials, and with only minimal
 financial investment.
                                                                                                   Office of Water (4608-T)
                                                                                                   http://water.epa.gov/
                        EPA 817-K-10-001
                           August 2010

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  Water Sector Critical Interdependencies
  Water infrastructure is designated by the U.S. Department of
  Homeland Security (DHS) as one of eighteen critical infrastructures.
  While all other sectors rely on the nation's water infrastructure to
  function, the critical interdependences between sectors are often
  not well understood or appreciated.

  Damage to water infrastructure has the potential to adversely affect
  the operation of all other critical infrastructure sectors, including
  energy, transportation, and public health; and, as such, protecting
  water infrastructure is imperative.
Benefits of Implementing
a CBWR Program in Your
Community
Implementing a CBWR program can garner
multiple benefits to your community's ability to
plan, prepare, respond to and recover from water
service disruptions. CBWR enables communities to:
• Recognize the effects of water service
 disruptions on critical community services;
• Understand how to integrate the effects of water
 service disruptions into emergency planning;
• Increase preparedness and resiliency of drinking
 water and wastewater utilities; and
• Incorporate security and climate ready practices
 into current operational practices.
CBWR Offers a
Community-Wide
Approach to Preparedness
Unlike many water protective programs, water
utility owners/operators are not solely responsible
for implementing CBWR. This effort can also be
initiated by:
•  Emergency Responders (e.g. fire and police
  departments)
•  Public works officials
•  City/county managers
•  Commissioners
•  Council members
•  Members of the public
•  Key businesses and services (e.g., hospitals, food
  processing plants, etc.)
  Communication and collaboration between these
  key stakeholders will work most effectively to
  enhance water resiliency.
Steps to Implementing a
CBWR Program
Implementing a CBWR program is easy-to-do,
especially with the many tools and resources
available. Steps include:
•  Identifying community-specific goals and
  objectives to enhance water resiliency;
•  Identifying specific deliverables needed to
  achieve project goals and objectives;
•  Identifying and engaging potential
  implementation partners;
•  Estimating resources and time needed to
  develop and implement the overarching
  project and key deliverables; and
•  Identifying options for securing resources.


Tools and  Resources to
Assist with Implementing
a CBWR Program
Tools and resources are available both online
and on a self-launching CD, and include:
•  CBWR Web site
•  Roadmap to Water Resiliency for Local
  Communities
•  Suite of fact sheets and posters highlighting
  water sector interdependencies with various
  other critical infrastructures
•  Customizable outreach materials for use by
  local officials in developing, implementing,
  and marketing CBWR efforts
•  Outreach efforts to promote CBWR initiative
  (e.g., presentations, workshops, Webcasts)
•  Available EPA tools and resources to help
  communities become more resilient to a
  water service disruption

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