April 9, 2012

1) "Coordination of the Water Sector and Emergency Services Sectors: An Important Step to Better Response" Document Released
2) Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool Training Modules Available Online
3) Blog Spotlight: Take the Challenge to Conserve Water

1) "Coordination of the Water Sector and Emergency Services Sectors: An Important Step to Better Response" Document Released
EPA has released a new document, "Coordination of the Water Sector and Emergency Services Sectors: An Important Step to Better Response," which describes the mutually beneficial relationship of the water sector and emergency services sector and provides examples on how to improve coordination between water utilities and local emergency management agencies. The document recommends a series of actions for utilities to improve their coordination with local emergency management agencies, including joint tabletop exercises, sharing and coordinating response plans and emergency contact information, getting to know each other in advance of an emergency, and sharing information about how water services support emergency management agencies during a response. The document can be accessed at http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/emerplan/upload/epa817k12001.pdf.

2) Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool Training Modules Available Online Training modules for EPA's Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) software are now available for viewing or download at http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/climate/. The CREAT software was developed under the Agency's Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) initiative, which provides drinking water, wastewater, and storm water utilities with practical tools, training, and technical assistance to confront climate change through climate related risk assessment. With a better understanding of climate challenges, utilities can take the proactive steps needed for adapting to climate change impacts and increasing the overall resilience of their utility. For more information on how to become "climate ready," visit U.S. EPA's CRWU website at http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/climate/.

3) Blog Spotlight: Take the Challenge to Conserve Water
Nancy Stoner, acting Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Water, blogged about her recent engagement with the Wyland Foundation to help announce the National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation—a friendly, community-based competition between cities across the nation to see who can be the most "water-wise" during April. Noting the pledges of 40 mayors and EPA's WaterSense program, a public-private partnership that promotes water conservation, Ms. Stoner encourages readers to take the challenge. To read the blog, visit: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2012/04/06/take-the-challenge-to-conserve-water/