Community Public Water System Risk Resilience Assessment (RRA) and Emergency Response Plan Deadlines
Ensuring safe, reliable drinking water is one of the most critical responsibilities of any community water system. In recent years, the federal government has strengthened expectations around preparedness, security, and resilience – especially as natural disasters, cyberattacks, and infrastructure challenges continue to evolve. One of the most important regulatory drivers in this space is Section 1433 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended by Section 2013 of America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA). These requirements help utilities prevent service disruptions, respond quickly to emergencies, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain public trust.
If your water system serves more than 3,300 people, these requirements apply to you. Here’s what you need to know:
SDWA Section 1433 focuses on improving the resilience and security of drinking water systems across the United States. It requires covered community water systems to:
- Conduct a Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA)
- Develop or update an Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
- Certify both documents to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
These requirements are designed to help utilities identify vulnerabilities, strengthen preparedness, and ensure continuity of service during emergencies.
In 2018, the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) amended Section 1433, modernizing the expectations for water system security. AWIA Section 2013 introduced updated assessment criteria, new certification deadlines, and a recurring five-year review cycle.
What Is a Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA)?
An RRA evaluates the system’s vulnerabilities across a wide range of potential threats, including natural hazards, cybersecurity risks, physical security threats, infrastructure weaknesses, and operational or financial risks.
What Is an Emergency Response Plan (ERP)?
Once the RRA is complete, the ERP outlines how the utility will respond to and recover from emergencies. It includes communication procedures, response strategies, service restoration plans, coordination with emergency agencies, and training schedules.
The Five-Year Recertification Cycle
Under AWIA, CWSs must review, revise, and recertify their RRA and ERP every five years to ensure plans remain current and effective.
Certification Deadlines
| Population Served | Previous RRA Deadline | Next 5-Year Submission Cycle RRA Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| ≥100,000 | March 31, 2020 | March 31, 2025 |
| 50,000-99,999 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2025 |
| 3,301-49,999 | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2026 |
| Population Served | Previous ERP Deadline* | Next 5-Year Submission Cycle ERP Deadline* |
|---|---|---|
| ≥100,000 | September 30, 2020 | September 30, 2025 |
| 50,000-99,999 | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2026 |
| 3,301-49,999 | December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2026 |
*ERP certifications are due six months from the date of the RRA certification. The dates shown above are certification dates based on a utility submitting a RRA on the final due date.
Reach out to Commonwealth Engineers if you need assistance with your Water System’s RRA or ERP! A member of our Business Development Team can discuss the process with you and answer any questions you may have.