Drinking Water Advisory Toolkits

Drinking Water Advisory Communication Toolbox [PDF - 156 pages]

This Toolbox provides a protocol and practical guide for communicating with stakeholders and the public about water advisories that is based upon research and identified practices. The Toolbox focuses on water systems and addresses the spectrum of situations that generate drinking water advisories.

This project was a collaborative effort among the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), and National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).

A technical workgroup of public health and drinking water agencies and drinking water system experts advised and guided the project. The project also engaged a broad cross-section of relevant stakeholders and technical experts including local government, emergency response, and hazard communication experts.

Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities

Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities [PDF - 94 pages]

In order to maintain daily operations and patient care services, health care facilities need to develop an Emergency Water Supply Plan (EWSP) to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a total or partial interruption of the facilities’ normal water supply. Water supply interruption can be caused by several types of events such as natural disaster, a failure of the community water system, construction damage or even an act of terrorism. Because water supplies can and do fail, it is imperative to understand and address how patient safety, quality of care, and the operations of your facility will be impacted.

A health care facility must be able to respond to and recover from a water supply interruption. A robust EWSP can provide a road map for response and recovery by providing the guidance to assess water usage, response capabilities, and water alternatives.