Emergency Response Plans Are Due December 31, 2026
If your community water system serves 3,301 to 49,999 people, America's Water Infrastructure Act requires you to certify your Emergency Response Plan to the U.S. EPA by December 31, 2026. Here is what that means and how to get there in an organized way.
Who this deadline applies to
Community water systems serving 3,301 to 49,999 people that certified their Risk and Resilience Assessment by June 30, 2026. Under AWIA, the Emergency Response Plan must be certified no later than six months after the assessment.
| Population served | Risk and Resilience Assessment | Emergency Response Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 or more | March 31, 2025 | September 30, 2025 |
| 50,000 to 99,999 | December 31, 2025 | June 30, 2026 |
| 3,301 to 49,999 | June 30, 2026 | December 31, 2026 |
Second-cycle certification dates for community water systems serving more than 3,300 people. Source: U.S. EPA AWIA fact sheet.
What the Emergency Response Plan must include
AWIA requires four core elements, informed by the findings of your Risk and Resilience Assessment.
Resilience strategies and resources — how your system will improve its resilience, including physical security and cybersecurity
Response plans and procedures — what your team will do if a natural hazard or malevolent act threatens your ability to deliver safe drinking water
Actions, procedures and equipment to lessen the impact — such as alternative water sources, relocating intakes, and flood protection
Detection strategies — how your system will detect malevolent acts or natural hazards that threaten it
A practical path to December 31
Six steps, in order. EGI's compliance portal walks your team through each one, with review and reminders along the way.
- Status check: confirm where your Risk and Resilience Assessment and current Emergency Response Plan stand
- Confirm your Risk and Resilience Assessment is certified; your plan must reflect its findings
- Update each section of the Emergency Response Plan, and coordinate with your Local Emergency Planning Committee
- Internal review and approval by your utility's authorized official
- Your utility certifies the plan to the U.S. EPA
- Keep copies of the assessment and plan on file for five years after certification
Your utility certifies. EGI keeps you organized.
Certification is always made by your utility's authorized official. EGI helps your team complete, review and document every section, tracks each open item to closure, and keeps your plan current for the next five-year cycle. EGI serves water utilities across Indiana and Illinois.
EGI's approach comes from 18 years supporting a municipal water utility, with zero cybersecurity incidents, zero AWIA violations and zero unplanned downtime.