Community-Based 

Water Resiliency 

Initiative

Strengthening Communities through 

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) EPA 817-K-10-001

http://water.epa.gov/ August 2010

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

 

Water Security Division
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 interdependencies 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

FEMA