Office of Water (4608T)
EPA 800-R-21-001
June 2021
POWER RESILIENCE
Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities
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Overview
Power loss can have devastating impacts on drinking water
and wastewater utilities and the communities they serve.
Inoperable pumps at a drinking water utility can make
firefighting difficult and cause local health care facilities and
restaurants to close. Pressure loss can allow contaminants
to enter the drinking water distribution system from
surrounding soil and groundwater. For wastewater utilities,
pump failure may lead to direct discharge of untreated
sewage to rivers and streams or sewage backup into homes
and businesses. Power loss can also impact water utilities
through cascading infrastructure failures. For example, a
chemical plant without power could discharge contaminants
into source water supplies.
EPA developed three resources to help water utilities
prepare for, respond to and recover from power outages:
• This document, developed for water and electric utilities, which also serves as a resource for anyone interested in
power resilience. In addition to providing information on increasing power resilience through several approaches, it
also includes case studies and planning considerations for both short (e.g., 2-3 days) and long (e.g., several weeks)
duration power outages.
• The Public Safety Power Shutoff Standard Operating Procedure Template is a comprehensive checklist that helps
water utilities better manage power shutoffs implemented by electric utilities to reduce wildfire risks. However, most
of the information is relevant to any power outage at any water utility. The SOP covers eight topics over six timesteps,
spanning blue sky planning to full grid power restoration.
• The Incident Action Checklist - Power Outages provides concise "rip & run" checklists that remind water utilities of
actions they can take to better plan for, react to and return to normal operations from power outages.
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Eight areas in which water sector utilities can increase power resilience are:
®1. Communication - Establish capability to communicate with electric providers, local agencies and the public
to help your utility respond more quickly and efficiently to a power loss.
2. Power Assessments - Conduct a power assessment to understand your essential equipment energy needs,
OS. Emergency/Standby Generators - Learn how to select, maintain and register requirements for a fixed or
portable emergency generator for your utility.
A
4. Fuel - Develop plans to ensure you have enough fuel for your generator during a power outage emergency.
5. Energy Efficiency - Increase your energy efficiency to allow you to operate on back-up power longer during
emergencies and to reduce your electricity bills during normal operations.
6. On-site Power - Consider options for generating your own power.
7. Black Sky Planning - Prepare for long-duration, widespread power outages.
8. Funding - Learn about possible funding sources for resilience measures.
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1. Communication
TOP TIP: Get your utility on the priority list for power restoration.
Good relationships, information sharing and collaboration between water and electric utilities and local emergency
management agencies (e.g., county, parish or city) are critical to having power restored quickly after an outage.
Depending on the nature of the emergency and your local communication and response procedures, you may call your
electric utility directly or you may need to coordinate through an emergency management agency (EMA). For more
information on working with your EMA, see the EPA's Connecting Water Utilities and Emergency Management Agencies.
Becoming familiar with your county's emergency protocols and how response and recovery decisions are made,
can help ensure that your utility is high on the power restoration prioritization list. Depending on your county's
emergency protocols, the order in which power is restored to local critical infrastructure, such as your water utility,
may be determined by your electric power provider, the local EMA or elected officials such as county commissioners.
Communicate your emergency power needs and the consequences to the community should you have to cease
operations due to a power failure. This should include details regarding "minimum" power requirements for essential
functions only and any existing capabilities for back-up power and corresponding fuel requirements. Be sure you know
who makes the power restoration prioritization list for your community and take steps to share relevant information with
them. You should also become aware of and involved in the total community restoration plan. Your assistance may be
needed to locate, prioritize and restore parts of the drinking water distribution system and wastewater collection system
that serve critical infrastructure, such as mass care shelters.
Did you know?
When an electric utility is restoring service after a major outage, it
generally prioritizes generating plants, transmission lines, substations,
main circuits, critical customers, residential lines, transformers and then
individual houses.
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Communication
Step 1
Contacts
Step 2
Key Information
Step 3
Prioritization List
Step 4
Training & Exercises
Step 5
Public Outreach
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Did you know?
Many agencies and organizations share information and resources
to support incident management activities at Emergency
Operations Centers (EOCs). EOCs focus on the response to and
the short-term recovery from an incident or natural disaster and
provide access for cross-sector key personnel.
Step 1 - Make Contacts and Establish Emergency Communications
Protocol
• Get to know the key staff or points of
contact at your electric utility responsible
for power restoration prioritization.
You may find that you have a dedicated
account representative who fulfills this
role for your utility. If this is not the case,
find that person who prioritizes your
restoration. When possible, have face-to-
face meetings.
• Ask for 24/7 emergency contact
information for the electric utility, the
local EMA and the local Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) and save these
numbers in your phone.
• Establish or verify, as applicable, the
proper structure for the most efficient
communications for power prioritization
and restoration. Make sure that this
structure is National Incident Management
System (NIMS) compliant.
• Ensure that your community's emergency
manager has your contact information in
his or her cell phone so that when you call,
your name will be recognized ,
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Amateur Radio Emergency Service
The Prince William County Service Authority has a great relationship with two local amateur radio clubs. Both clubs
have their primary repeater sites on Service Authority property, including antennas on top of water towers. The
Service Authority, county and radio clubs are working to establish alternative communications paths between the
Service Authority Department Operations Center (DOC), the Prince William County Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) and the Service Authority's Advanced Water Reclamation Facility. In November 2018, the Service Authority
and the Prince William County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (PWCARES) entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) for emergency cooperation. During a widespread power outage when land lines and
cellular phones may no longer work, amateur radio operators can provide vital communication services to the
Service Authority.
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Step 3 - Get on the Priority Power Restoration List
• Learn how critical customers are managed and prioritized in your community.
• Engage the power restoration prioritization list manager,
• Determine your utility's prioritization status and take additional measures to get as high on the priority list as possible.
• Inform the prioritization list manager of your "storm-ready" capabilities and be sure that he or she understands the
consequences to the community of drinking water and wastewater service disruptions and reduced service levels.
Ensure the list manager understands how quickly water services can degrade without power and how long it takes to
restore water services once power is lost.
• Inform the list manager of the critical assets at your utility that rely on grid power including their individual power
requirements (e.g., critical functions vs. administration building).
• Gain an understanding of the other critical infrastructure facilities prioritized in the community so that you can
align water and wastewater support
accordingly.
Ask for annual updates to the critical
customer and prioritization lists.
Critical Customers
Dominion Energy has worked closely with Virginia Emergency Operation
Centers (EOCs) to identify the 10-20 most critical services in each of the
EOC's jurisdictions. Once identified, these critical facilities
are further assigned Special Condition Categories, and water and sewage
treatment facilities are considered "Critical Infrastructure." These
"Special Conditions" accounts are flagged so Dominion knows instantly
when a water or wastewater treatment facility loses power. An intranet
application allows Dominion Energy to remain focused on these locations
to ensure critical infrastructure accounts receive the highest restoration
priority.
In addition, during large-scale power outages, Dominion Energy
establishes Electric Regional Operations Centers to better manage
its response. Water utilities have a direct line to these centers and to
representatives of Dominion Energy.
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Step 4 - Planning, Training and Exercises
Planning, training and exercises allow power and water utility staff to learn, practice, test and improve emergency
response plans (ERPs) and procedures. Often, these plans and procedures involve response partners. Consider the
following options to enhance the quality of your training and exercises:
• Plan with your electric utility to know how various power outage scenarios will affect your utility and what steps you
can take together to mitigate impacts.
• if your utility conducts planning activities or annual exercises, invite staff from your electric utility and local EMA.
The EPA offers a Tabletop Exercise Tool for Water Systems to help utilities develop exercises for different scenarios.
o
o
The EPA has also developed How to Develop a Multi-Year Training and Exercise (T&E) Plan to help water utilities
create successful training plans.
Ask your electric utility to allow you to attend any exercises or planning activities it hosts.
Participate in national exercises focused on grid resilience such as GRIDEX and EARTH EX.
Ask your local EMA to include both your utility and the electric utility in its exercises.
Share your emergency response plans with your electric utility
and EMA and ask for information and updates on their plans.
Consider a dedicated planning component to emergency back-
up power (generators).
Grid hardening - Activities such as tree-
trimmirig help prevent weather related power
outages. When talking to your electric utility,
you can ask what grid hardening steps are being
taken and what you can do to help. For example,
do you have the resources to assist in tree-
trimming? If your water utility has a remote
pump station in the woods serviced by electric
power from street lines, consider installing that
service line underground along the access road.
Although this is more expensive than typical
pole installation, the service line will be better
protected from tree falls.
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Power Assessments
Step 1
Assess
Step 2
Document
2. Power Assessments
TOP TIP: Have a licensed electrician assist you with your power assessment
Power assessments determine your utility's emergency power requirements for critical equipment to maintain water
and wastewater services. A power assessment team typically includes electrical, mechanical and operational subject
matter experts. These are the appropriate utility professionals who can fully assess utilities' power needs and operational
implementation requirements. They will inspect all infrastructure assets at your utility. You will determine electrical assets
critical to your operation. Critical infrastructure components will be unique at each utility, but usually include treatment
processes and key pumping stations. This information is required to properly size an emergency generator(s), and a
reference to its location should be included in your ERP. You can learn more about power assessments and generators
in the free, 2-hour online course, IS-815: ABCs of Temporary Emergency Power, offered by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute.
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Step 1. - Conduct an Emergency Power Assessment at Your Utility
• Conduct a Self-Assessment - Perform your own emergency power assessment, with the assistance of a qualified
power assessment team.
• When you upgrade your facilities or build new components, re-assess your power requirements to determine if you
also need to add generator capacity, battery banks or on-site renewable energy.
• Periodically review and update your emergency power requirements, especially when replacing assets and remodeling
buildings.
• Consider installing stationary generators with automatic transfer switches at all "critical" facilities to ensure they will
stay in operation should the power go out.
• If possible, conduct a hydraulic model-based assessment of how performance measures would be impacted when
your facility is powered by generators instead of the electric grid, and how failures of one or more generators would
affect performance.
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Generators
Step 1
Size
Step 2
Ownership
s
Fuel
Step 4
Connection
Step 5
Placement
Step 6
Maintenance
3. Generators
TOP TIP: Know what type of generators you need and where you would get them during a power outage.
Choosing a Generator
Once you know your generator requirements, you need to make several decisions
to find the best one for your utility. A generator is classified by its power rating.
Two distinct power ratings are prime power and emergency standby. The average
load factor for both types is 80 percent. The table below compares some general
characteristics of the two types of generators.
Prime Power
Emergency Standby I
Length of use
Rated for extended periods of operation
at variable loads
Designed for short-term use; typically rated to
operate no more than 200 hours per year
Impact of operating longer than prescribed hours
N/A
More frequent breakdowns and
malfunctioning
Cost
More expensive because they are
designed to meet operational loads for
an extended period of time
Less expensive
Regulations
As you compare generator options, check local, state and federal regulations on generators, fuel storage and use and
maximum permissible testing. In most cases, a local or state air permit is needed to install and operate a stationary
generator. There are also federal regulations for stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE). Most
states implement the federal air quality program and states can also impose additional requirements. The specific
requirements depend on your jurisdiction, as well as the age, type and size of the generator. The regulatory requirements
also depend on the type of fuel. Compression Ignition (CI) RICE run on diesel fuel while Spark Ignition (SI) RICE use
natural gas, propane and gasoline.
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Generators
Step 1
Size
Step 2
Ownership
s
Fuel
Step 4
Connection
Step 5
Placement
Step 6
Maintenance
Step 3 -
What Type of Fuel Should I Use to Run my Generator?
Fuel Type
Pros
Cons
Diesel
•
•
•
•
Powers large generators
Lasts longer than gasoline
Readily available
Safer to handle and store
• Requires deliveries
• Requires on-site storage
• Risk of spills
• Environmental restrictions
• Limited storage life
Natural Gas
•
•
•
•
Does not require truck delivery
Does not require on-site storage
Does not expire
Supply is relatively inexhaustible
• Generator cost may be more expensive
• If natural gas service is interrupted, there are
limited back-up options
• Risk of explosion
Propane
•
•
Does not expire
Easily available in rural areas
• Requires deliveries
• Requires on-site storage
• Limitation of generator size
• Leased storage tanks limit fuel provider choice
• Risk of explosion
Gasoline
•
•
Powers smaller, portable generators
Readily available
• Typical shelf life is 2-3 months or less if stored in
the equipment
• Requires deliveries
• Requires on-site storage
• Risk of spills
• Worst storage life of all options
• Size limitations
• Risk of explosions
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Generators
Step 1
Size
Step 2
Ownership
s
Fuel
Step 4
Connection
Step 5
Placement
Step 6
Maintenance
Step 4 - How Will I Connect a Generator to my Loads?
Generators require a special connection, or
transfer switch, to rapidly connect to your facility's
equipment and prevent potentially-harmful back-
feeding into electric lines. Transfer switches allow
you to easily switch back and forth between grid
power and on-site generator power sources. See
the additional tips below on installing transfer
switches.
• Clearly depict the location of the transfer
switch on site maps.
• Install transfer switches at eye level to make
generators easier to connect in an emergency
under poor weather and lighting conditions.
• Consider installing automatic transfer switches
that automatically move from grid power to
generator power when an outage is detected at
unmanned facilities or at critical equipment.
• Consider connecting these sites into the utility SCADA system to know when the automatic transfer switch has been
activated.
• Consider installing a manual transfer switch for facilities or other pieces of equipment that do not need to be
automatically transferred to an alternate power source during a power outage. The likely dispatch time for an
operator to access the site should be considered in the determination of a manual versus automatic transfer switch.
• Ensure that personnel responsible for manual transfers receive appropriate training on switch operations.
• The connection type for portable generators must be considered when sharing resources or ordering from an outside
vendor. Examples of some known plug types are Appleton, single cable cam-locks, hardwired and outside building
tap-box.
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Generators
Step 1
Size
Step 2
Ownership
s
Fuel
Step 4
Connection
Step 5
Placement
Step 6
Maintenance
Step 5 - Where Will I Keep a Generator?
Make sure you keep your generator at a secure location. Some tips include:
• Locate generators and their fuel tanks above flood levels. A common
height requirement for critical infrastructure is 3 feet above the 100-year
floodplain, although some utilities are using the 500-year floodplain for
an added margin of safety. Check your local and state requirements.
• Consider installing a concrete pad to provide a stable surface for a
portable generator during an outage.
• Use weatherproof enclosures to protect generators and electric
equipment.
Video: Generator Placement
Get an enclosure large enough to provide easy access to the generator's radiator, fuel tanks, air and oil filters and
charging system.
Cover a generator with a roof to increase its life expectancy. Position the generator pad so that a roof can be added
later.
Maintain three or four feet of clear space on all sides of the generator for adequate ventilation.
Buy or rent a generator built with acoustical steel and sound insulation if it will be in a residential area.
Address security at all planned mobile generator locations.
For portable generators, consider where you will store them and how you will transport them to their potential areas
of use.
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Generators
Step 2
Ownership
Step 4
Connection
Step 5
Placement
Step 6
Maintenance
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Case Study:
In southern Monmouth County, New Jersey, a wastewater pumping station was redesigned to utilize a mobile trailer
to house the pumping station's expensive primary electric equipment and controls. This way, the trailer can be moved
out of danger during floods. Cables and plugs provide the connection between the pump station and the electric
and control equipment in the trailer. When a storm threatens, the utility removes the trailer and mounts a cheaper
secondary electric and control system at the site. The secondary system then powers and operates the pump station
on either grid or generator power until after the storm, when the trailer can be safely returned to the pumping station.
A mobile enclosure may seem costly, but it saved the South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority an estimated
$1.5 million in repair and recovery after Hurricanes Irene and Sandy.
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Generators
Step 1
Size
Step 2
Ownership
s
Fuel
Step 4
Connection
Step 5
Placement
Step 6
Maintenance
Generator Use Tips (continued)
~ If possible, outfit portable generators with GPS to keep track of their locations when moved both inside the system, or
outside (in the case of sharing a WARN resource).
~ Maintain printed maintenance manuals and keep readily accessible.
~ Keep basic maintenance supplies on hand (e.g., coolant, belts, oil, fuel filters) to quickly repair or service a generator if
it breaks down.
~ Develop an Asset Management Plan for your generators to make sure they and their resources are maintained
properly.
~ Plan for a "backup" to your backup power. One option is to reserve a portable generator from a rental pool during
storm season and determine how you will connect it to your backup system.
~ Outfit equipment connected to stationary generators with another generator cable connection to bring in an
additional unit should the stationary generator fail.
Video: Paralleling Generators
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4. Fuel
TOP TIP: Have multiple ways to get and move fuel during an emergency.
You must maintain fuel on-site and have multiple ways to obtain additional
fuel from vendors and other sources during emergencies. It may be difficult
or impossible to get fuel from outside sources to keep your generators
operating for an extended period. Your fuel suppliers may stop their
operations due to the power loss, transportation difficulties or other damage.
If you lease propane fuel tanks, the supplier from whom you leased them is
typically the only one who can fill them. Buying your own propane storage
tanks may give you more supplier options.
To keep your generators running during an emergency, you should develop a
fuel plan that addresses:
How much fuel you need to operate each of your generators for one day
Total on-site fuel capacity
How you will re-fuel your generators, including those in remote locations
Contracts with multiple fuel vendors
Plans for using alternate fuel, such as for bi-fuel generators
Multiple options to move fuel during an emergency
Staffing the significant 'extra' operation of fuel supply
Risks associated with conducting a resupply operation in a seriously-disrupted
operational environment
Video: Fuel
Fuel Tank Sizing - You do not
want to run out of fuel during a
power outage. One utility manager
recommends storing enough fuel to
run a generator at 70% load for five
days. Typically, having this amount
of fuel on hand enables this utility
to run a generator for seven to nine
days without running out of fuel,
while it transitions to a continual
resupply situation.
The rule of thumb that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses to calculate diesel fuel requirements is:
0.07 gallons/hour x kW size of the generator x 24 hours/day = gallons of fuel required per day
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Wind, Solar and Batteries
The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) serves 14 municipalities in
Atlantic CountyNew Jersey and a population of over 230,000 residents.
Its wastewater treatment plant has a capacity of 40 million gallons per
day (MGD) and currently treats about 26 MGD. The treatment plant has
an energy demand of approximately 2,5 MW. The 7.5 MW Jersey Atlantic
Windfarm provides about 60 percent of the utility's electricity through
a fixed purchase agreement. ACUA also has 500 kW of solar onsite,
including ground mount, canopy and rooftop systems. ACUA has a land
lease agreement with Viridity Energy, who installedowns and operates
a 1 MW battery energy storage at ACUA. Viridity uses the frequency
regulation market to get a return on its investment and shares in the
savings ACUA sees from a reduction in peak load charges on its electric bills. The 1 MW battery storage could provide
15 minutes of back-up power to the entire treatment plant. During a longer power outage, the utility would switch
from battery storage to back-up generators. ACUA plans to obtain additional batteries so it can operate as an island,
independent of the grid.
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Microgrid
A central concept to DER is the microgrid. According to the U.S. Department of Energy Microgrid Exchange Group, "A
microgrid is a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries
that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. A microgrid can connect and disconnect from the grid
to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island-mode." During a power outage, you could switch to your own
electric microgrid powered by various sources such as solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, biogas and usually battery
banks. In the community, microgrids are often used to link critical public services and critical private businesses together
in their own, larger microgrid. These key facilities could become "islands" of power during an outage.
DER and microgrids are emerging technologies and you need to check your state regulatory commission rules on grid
interconnection if the system is to interface on-and-off the electric grid. If the microgrid is only dedicated to critical loads,
you may not need to address those regulatory issues. The EPA offers a number of energy resources on renewable energy,
energy efficiency and emerging technologies.
One Use for On-Site Power
As you consider the benefits of
various types of DER at your
utility, think about using solar
or wind power for telemetry
systems. Then your source
of information about remote
facilities would be independent
from grid power.
^ Energy markets
Weather forecast
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Microgrid
Microgrid with Combined Heat and Power
The Greater Lawrence Sanitary District (GLSD) augments its Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
fuel source digestion facilities with food waste at its 52 MGD treatment plant. This greatly
boosts methane production and the ability to power the District's treatment processes and net-
meter power to the grid for its off-site pumping station. GLSD benefits from a Massachusetts
law that does not allow producers of one ton or more of food waste per week to use landfills or
incinerators to dispose of that waste. A Waste Management CORe® facility creates an engineered
bioslurry from food waste and delivers three to five truckloads of slurry to GLSD each day.
Based on this projectGLSD can:
• Fuel its cogeneration engines with natural gas
• Fuel its cogeneration engines with biogas
• Produce 3.2 MW of power, enough to sustain full wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operations during an
extended power outage
In the event of a power outage, the CHP shuts down, but can then be restarted by GLSD using natural gas. The natural
gas can then be switched to biogas. These abilities provide operational reliability and flexibility and demonstrate that
continued WWTP operations during a long-duration power outage with a clean energy source is possible. Off-site
pumping stations still require backup diesel generators in the event of a power outage, but GLSD is well on its way to net
zero operations.
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Black Sky Planning
Step 1
Define Top Level
Goals
Step 2
Establish Minimalist
Service Levels
Step 3
Develop Internal
Requirements
Step 4
Develop External
Requirements
Communication
Power
Assessments
Step 1 - Define Top Level Goals
~ What are the basic, overarching goals your utility wants to achieve during a black sky incident?
~ What are the threats to public health and safety due to long-term disruption of drinking water or wastewater services
that you wish to avoid?
Long-term Backup Generator Use
During Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant on Long Island, New York lost all power. The
utility produced its own power with on-site generation units, and the flooding from Sandy damaged multiple secondary
systems on which those units relied. Bay Park was effectively left without primary power for more than one year. The
plant operated with backup power from two pods of two diesel generators each, each pod capable of producing 3
MW. Based on Bay Park's experiences post-Sandy, here are some considerations for long-term operation of standby
generators:
Despite having 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel storage at each standby generator pod, fuel deliveries were required every
24 hours. Fortunately, the roads around Bay Park were passable within one week after Sandy made landfall.
Frequent load shedding to perform maintenance on the standby generators was challenging. Therefore, the 2 MW
generators in each pod were replaced with two 1 MW generators each to make maintenance easier.
Diesel generators are noisy, and since the generators were used long-term, there were numerous community
complaints. Bay Park regularly conducted public meetings on the progress and timeline to restore primary power.
"Emergency" use of the generators was allowed for 500 hours before state air quality standards applied. Therefore,
Bay Park eventually replaced their standby diesel generators with natural gas generators to meet emission
requirements.
FEMA reimbursement for the rental charges of the standby generators became difficult because Bay Park had used
them so long. In this case, purchasing the generators would have cost less than renting them.
The flooding and noise issues led Bay Park to reconsider its standby generator placement. Bay Park's generators
are now on the roof (out of a flood's reach), shielded by a building for noise abatement and as far as possible from
residential neighbors.
Continuous run or prime power rated backup generators, not standby rated, can typically provide up to full power for
your utility as long as you need it. Standby or emergency generators are not designed to run continuously for long
periods of time. They need to be frequently taken offline for maintenance and if used for longer periods of time, need
to be de-rated, or run below their full power rating.
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Fuel
Energy #
Efficiency "
On-site
Power
Black Sky
Planning
Funding ^
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Step 2 - Establish Minimalist Sustainable Service Levels
~ What are the "bare minimum" goals for meeting customer needs as your fuel and treatment chemical supplies
dwindle during an extended wide area blackout?
~ Will you reduce treatment and/or stop serving some pressure zones?
~ Have you discussed or developed plans on your expected levels of treatment and service during a prolonged power
outage with your local EMA, critical customers and your state regulatory authority so that they can plan appropriately?
~ Have you segregated the electric loads to their own breaker boxes so that the facility could have the option for
dedicated on-site electric renewable or generator systems?
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Federal Resources
The EPA's tool Federal Funding for Utilities - Water/Wastewater - in National Disasters (Fed FUNDS) provides
comprehensive information on funding programs from various federal agencies including FEMA, the EPA, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Small
Business Administration (SBA). For example, the state-administered Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and Clean
Water SRF support a wide range of infrastructure projects. Eligible projects could include resilience components such as
energy efficient upgrades and alternative power sources. States establish priorities for using SRF funds and assistance is
typically in the form of low-interest loans. To access Fed FUNDS, click the image below.
Federal Funding for Water and Wastewater
Utilities in National Disasters (Fed FUNDS)
This website gives utilities information about federal disaster funding programs. Although Fed FUNDS
focuses on major disasters, you can use the information for any incident that disrupts water or
wastewater services or damages critical infrastructure. Learn more about water resilience.
Find the
Right Funding
Answer a series of questions to find the best
disaster funding program(s) for vour utility
Overview of Funding
Opportunities
• Eligibility and application process information
(and moreil for all funding opportunities
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Sample Projects and Funding Sources
To assist you in locating potential funding sources, the table below has been completed based on a broad interpretation
of funding eligibility and policy. Individual utility projects will need evaluation on a case-by-case basis. Talk to your utility
supervisor, local emergency manager, town manager and state hazard mitigation officer to determine the availability of
funding opportunities for your power resilience project.
Sample Power Resilience Project
Possible Funding Sources
EPA SRF
FEMA PA
FEMA HMG
HUD CDBG
USD A WEP
Repair generator or fuel tank
X
X
Elevate existing generators, electric equipment etc.
X
X
X
X
Purchase generators and fuel storage
X
X
X
X
Install electric wiring hookups (e.g., transfer switches)
to accept generators
X
X
X
Develop and implement emergency power plan
X
X
X
Harden grid link or multiple independent feeds
X
X
X
Replace damaged equipment with energy efficient
versions
X
X
X
X
Add power (e.g., dual fuel, cogeneration, solar, wind)
X
X
X
X
Table Key: SRF = State Revolving Fund; PA = Public Assistance; HMG = Hazard Mitigation Grant; CDBG = Community Development
Block Grant; WEP = Water and Environmental Programs
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Appendices
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Appendix A: Existing Generator Information Sheet
1. Facility Information
Site Name: Address:
Latitude (N): Longitude (W):
Major motors, in starting order, used for facility operations (e.g., 75 HP 2 Quantity 460 Volts 3 Phase):
HP
Quantity
Volts
Phase
~ soft start DACL (across the line
HP
Quantity
Volts
Phase
~ soft start DACL (across the line
HP
Quantity
Volts
Phase
~ soft start QACL (across the line
HP
Quantity
Volts
Phase
~ soft start DACL (across the line
2. Generator Information
Power (kW): Voltage (V): Phase(s):
Configuration: DWye ~ Delta
Transfer Switch: DAuto ~ Manual
Generator Location: Dlnside DOutside
Generator Type: DPortable ^Stationary
Cable Length (ft): Cable Size (MCM or AWG):
3. Engine Information
Engine Make: Engine Model:
Engine Serial Number: Battery Voltage:
Primary Fuel Filter: Secondary Fuel Filter: Coolant Filter:
Oil Filter: Oil Type: Oil capacity: _
Air Filter: Fuel Type: Fuel Capacity:
Gallons per hour: Max Run Hours (100% load)*:
Diesel Emissions Fluid (DEF) Tank Capacity:
4. Additional Notes (e.g., hitch requirements for portable generator, site specific directions, clearance
issues with overhead lines)
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Facility Information
Site Name: site name for stationary generator or write "portable" for portable generator
Address: physical location for stationary generator; storage location for portable generator
Latitude and Longitude: provide six places to the right of the decimal point for latitude and longitude to
indicate a more precise location. If presented in degrees-minutes-seconds, the seconds should be listed
four decimal places to the right of the whole number of seconds for equivalent accuracy.
Major motors: provide the horsepower, quantity, volts, and phases of the major motors that will be
powered by the generator, in starting order, and whether they are soft start or across the line start
Generator Information
Power: the power output of the generator in kilowatts (kW)
Voltage: voltage is a measure of pressure
Phase(s): generators can be single or three-phase
Configuration: 3-phased power can be in a wye configuration in the shape of a "Y" or a delta
configuration in the shape of a triangle
Transfer switch: does the generator start up automatically or require a manual switch?
Generator Location: is the generator located inside or outside?
Generator Type: a portable generator can be moved between locations and a stationary one is at a fixed
location
Cable Length: length of cable between generator and load
Cable Size: size of cable in Thousand Circular Mils (MCM) or American Wire Gauge (AWG)
Engine Information
Engine Make and Model: the manufacturer of the engine and the engine model number
Engine serial number: the serial number on the engine
Battery voltage: the size and number of batteries the engine requires
Filters: the type of filters each system requires; note - some engines do not have a secondary fuel filter
Oil: the type and capacity of oil
Fuel: the type and capacity of fuel (e.g., diesel)
Gallons per hour: the number of gallons of fuel needed per hour
*Max run hours: for fuel planning only, the maximum number of hours the engine can run before
refueling assuming 100% load (generators should run closer to 70% or 80% load)
Diesel Emissions Fluid (DEF) Tank Capacity: the capacity of DEF tank
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Appendix B: Generator Request Form
1. Facility Information
Site Name: Address:
Latitude (N): Longitude (W):
Contact Name: Phone: Email:
Major motors, in starting order, used for facility operations (e.g., 75 HP 2 Quantity 460 Volts 3 Phase):
HP Quantity Volts Phase Dsoft start ~ ACL (across the line)
HP Quantity Volts Phase Dsoft start ~ ACL (across the line)
HP Quantity Volts Phase Dsoft start ~ ACL (across the line)
HP Quantity Volts Phase Dsoft start ~ ACL (across the line)
2. Needed Generator
Power (kW): Voltage (V): Phase(s)
Configuration: ~ Wye ~ Delta Cable Length (ft): Cable Size (MCM or AWG):
On-site cable configuration: Preferred Fuel Type:
3. Assessment Details
Main Breaker Current (Amps):
Service Drop Type: dOverhead ~ Underground
If overhead, is there sufficient clearance for trailer? ~ Yes ~ No ~ N/A
Anticipated On-site Location of Temporary Generator:
4. Hitching Requirements
Trailer Hitch: ~ Pintel ~ Ball Trailer Height:
Electrical connections: Generator and Trailer Weight:
5. Additional Notes (e.g., site specific directions, clearance issues with overhead lines)
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Facility Information
Site Name and Address: location and address for requested generator
Latitude and Longitude: provide six places to the right of the decimal point for latitude and longitude to
indicate a more precise location. If presented in degrees-minutes-seconds, the seconds should be listed
four decimal places to the right of the whole number of seconds for equivalent accuracy.
Contact: name, email and phone number for a point of contact for the generator
Major motors: provide the horsepower, quantity, volts, and phases of the major motors that will be
powered by the generator, in starting order, and whether they are soft start or across the line start
Needed Generator
Power: the power output of the generator in kilowatts (kW)
Voltage: voltage is a measure of pressure
Phase(s): generators can be single or three-phase
Configuration: 3-phased power can be in a wye configuration in the shape of a "Y" or a delta
configuration in the shape of a triangle
Cable Length: length of cable needed to connect generator to load in feet
Cable Size: size of cable in Thousand Circular Mils (MCM) or American Wire Gauge (AWG)
On-site cable configuration: onsite cable connection for a generator (e.g, appleton, camlock, etc.)
Preferred Fuel Type: type of fuel (e.g., diesel) that is preferred
Assessment Details
Main Breaker Current: size of the circuit breaker in amps that controls all electric current in the building
Service Drop Type: are the electrical lines overhead or underground?
Transformer Mount Type: is the transformer mounted on a pad or a pole?
Anticipated On-site location: describe where the generator will be placed
Hitching Requirements
Trailer Hitch: type of hitch
Trailer Height: height of the trailer/hitch
Electrical connections: describe electrical connections needed for trailer
Generator and Trailer Weight: combined weight of generator and trailer
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Office of Water (4608T) EPA 800-R-21-001 June 2021
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