DEWARN

WHAT IS DEWARN

DEWARN is a Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) of “utilities helping utilities” to:

• Prepare for the next natural or human caused emergency.
• Organize response according to established requirements.
• Share personnel and other resources statewide by agreement
• Past disaster response and lessons learned tell us that:
  • Utility operations are specialized.
  • Utilities must be self-sufficient and fill the gap between disaster onset and arrival of other governmental aid.
  • Communities cannot function without water.oWater/Wastewater restoration provides hope.

WHAT DEWARN CAN DO FOR YOU

In order to be eligible for federal grants and reimbursements before, during and after an emergency, all community water/wastewater systems are to:

• Adopt the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
• Support the development of interstate mutual aid programs.
• Integrate response at the field, local and state levels of government.
• The DEWARN program will help facilitate meeting these requirements.

MISSION

The mission of the DEWARN network is to support and promote statewide emergency preparedness, disaster response, and mutual aid assistance for public and private water and wastewater utilities for natural and human caused events in the state.

PURPOSE

The DEWARN network will provide water and wastewater utilities with:

• A mutual assistance agreement and process for sharing emergency resources among water and wastewater agencies statewide.
• A mutual assistance program consistent with other statewide mutual aid and assistance programs and the National Incident Management System.
• The resources to respond and recover more quickly from a natural or human caused disaster.
• A forum for developing and maintaining emergency contacts and relationships.

PARTICIPATION

The DEWARN Mutual Assistance Agreement is available to all public and private water and wastewater utilities in Delaware.

• A single agreement provides access to all member utilities statewide.
• Provides insurance for access to resources during an emergency without pre-contractual limitations Consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
• Provides a list of emergency contacts and phone numbers.
• Reduces administrative conflict.
• Agreement contains indemnification and workers’ compensation provisions to protect participating utilities, and provides for reimbursement of costs, as needed.
• Avoids federal bureaucracy.
• Increases hope that recovery comes quickly.

NATIONAL SUPPORT

American Water Works Association

Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies

Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators

Association of State Drinking Water Administrators

National Association of Clean Water Agencies

National Association of Water Companies

National Rural Water Association

Water Environmental Federation

SUPPORT IN DELAWARE

Support in the development of intrastate mutual aid programs and an integrated response at the local, county and state levels of government is provided by the following regulatory agencies:

• Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Office of Drinking Water
• Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
• Delaware Emergency Management Agency
• Delaware Public Services Commission
• US Environmental Protection Agency

DEWARN MEMBERS

• City of Milford
• Artesian Water Company
• SUEZ
• City of New Castle
• Camden Wyoming Sewer & Water Authority
• City of Wilmington
• City of Newark
• Town of Blades
• Town of Selbyville
• Tidewater Utilities
• Town of Milton
• Governor Bacon Health Center
• Sussex County
• Cantwell Water Company of Odessa Inc.
• Town of Middletown
• City of Dover
• Sussex Shores Water Company
• Town of Lewes
• Town of Henlopen Acres

Associate Members List

• Delaware Department of Public Health
• DNREC
• Delaware Rural Water Association
• DEMA
• US EPA Region 3

(Members List Revised January, 2017)