<strong>AZ</strong> WATER ASSOCIATION 34 January 2009 Phoenix, <strong>AZ</strong> 602-241-1770 Tucson, <strong>AZ</strong> 520-629-9982 Irvine, CA 949-450-9901 Los Angeles, CA 213-614-9002 Emeryville, CA 510-596-3060 San Diego, CA 760-602-3800
WINTER UPDATE A water sector utility needs resources and personnel quickly in a utility emergency. The Arizona <strong>Water</strong>/Wastewater Agency Response Network (<strong>AZ</strong>WARN) is a mutual aid network of water sector utilities bound by a common mutual aid agreement. The purpose of the <strong>AZ</strong>WARN Agreement is to have a legal arrangement with many water sector utilities in place, prior to emergencies. This allows an immediate response to crisis-stage requests, contacts in many utilities, and avoids losing time in legal negotiations between jurisdictions. Arizona is one of 35 states with intrastate WARN agreements, participating in the National WARN consortium. American <strong>Water</strong> Works <strong>Association</strong> in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency sponsors the national forums. In Arizona the <strong>AZ</strong> <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, with training funds from Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), has sponsored the Arizona chapter called <strong>AZ</strong>WARN. In Arizona 12 public utilities have signed the intrastate agreement in Arizona, submitting signed Mutual Aid Agreements to the <strong>AZ</strong>WARN Chairperson. Two more public utilities in Arizona indicate they have obtained council approval to join <strong>AZ</strong>WARN and are in the process of submitting paperwork. In addition, six more water sector utilities have indicated that they are in process of getting approval from their respective authorities to join. The Rural <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Association</strong> (formerly Arizona Small Utilities <strong>Association</strong>) became an Associate member of <strong>AZ</strong>WARN. The partnership of <strong>AZ</strong> <strong>Water</strong> and the Arizona Rural <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Association</strong> in promoting <strong>AZ</strong>WARN gives added energy to the mutual aid network in Arizona. Recently, the Arizona Division of Emergency Management reached out to include <strong>AZ</strong>WARN representatives in the newly forming NIMS Credentialing Workgroup, which will discuss NIMS credentialing requirements for Public Works and the <strong>Water</strong> Sector. This, as well as an invitation to participate in a newly forming Critical Sector Council sets a solid framework for making sure that the <strong>Water</strong> Sector perspective is heard by Emergency Managers and Security Sectors. An ADEQ funded Emergency Management Planning workshop was held in Yuma on September 20, 20<strong>08</strong> with good participation from area operators. It was hosted by the City of Yuma water utility, with a dynamic presentation by Kathleen Carroll on past utility emergencies. Three more Emergency Planning workshops are planned by ADEQ in 2009. The ADEQ sessions will include an update on <strong>AZ</strong>WARN and continue to expand the education on emergency management for water sector participants [see www.azwarn.com]. An Arizona semi-annual meeting of <strong>AZ</strong>WARN members was hosted by Flagstaff <strong>Water</strong> Utilities in September. At that time subcommittees were formed to begin work on grant sources, creating an operational manual and working on the associated emergency management materials. There were volunteers from many water utilities to work on the projects: staff volunteered from Phoenix, Metro <strong>Water</strong>, Tucson <strong>Water</strong>, Avondale, Prescott Valley, Yuma and Pima County. Yuma staff provided ideas and samples of brochures, calendars and posters for the <strong>AZ</strong>WARN network to be distributed at events and meetings. Phoenix staff took the lead on writing an Operational Manual. Phoenix, Tucson <strong>Water</strong> and Flagstaff have been exploring funding sources for training and creating an autonomous <strong>AZ</strong>WARN website. The current chairperson was retained and Steve Shepard of Metro <strong>Water</strong> was ealected Vice-Chair. Members decided to meet quarterly until major materials are developed and the fundamental structure established. The next <strong>AZ</strong>WARN members meeting will be hosted by the Metro <strong>Water</strong> District in Tucson on February 20, 2009. <strong>For</strong> more information feel free to contact Jean Voelkel: (520) 740-6500, jean.voelkel@wwm.pima.gov or Steve Shepard: (520) 575-8100, sshepard@metrowater.com January 2009 35 <strong>AZ</strong> WATER ASSOCIATION
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