Emergency Publications for Water Systems

If an emergency (accident, natural disaster, criminal action) affects your water system, these resources will help you. For assistance during normal business hours, contact your local health department or regional office. If an emergency occurs after hours, call our 24-hour Emergency Hotline on our Utilities Emergency Contacts webpage.

Contents/Downloads

Coliform Public Health Advisory Packet webpage

Color, taste, and odor problems in drinking water 331-286 (PDF)

Department of Health's role during a drought emergency fact sheet 331-297 (PDF)

Do not drink: Contaminated Water poster 331-265 (PDF)

Do not drink: Water contaminated with Nitrate poster 331-266 (PDF)

Drinking Water After-hours Emergency Hotline 331-133 (PDF)

EPA's Drinking Water Security for Small Systems Serving 3,300 or Fewer Persons; EPA Publication 817-R-05-001 (PDF)

Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water; EPA Publication 816-F-15-003 (PDF)

Emergency Disinfection of Small Systems 331-242 (PDF)

Emergency Drinking Water Sources 331-317 (PDF)

Emergency Response Planning Guide for Public Drinking Water Systems 331-211 (PDF)

Emergency Water Supply Guidelines for Food Establishments webpage | Spanish

EPA's Features of an Active and Effective Protective Program; EPA Publication 817-F-08-005 (PDF)

Flood Advice for Drinking Water Systems 331-300 (PDF) Note: Water systems should make preparations to keep their facilities safe during a flood. Find more information on our What to do During a Flood Watch webpage.

Guidelines for Truck Transportation of Emergency Water Supply for Public Use 331-063 (PDF)

Nitrate Public Health Advisory Packet webpage

Northwest Washington Water Regional Resiliency Assessment Program (RRAP) 331-710 (PDF) Summary of two years of collected data and analytics on critical water infrastructure in NW WA that could survive a Cascadia 9.5 event. Identifies key regional resiliency gas and options for addressing the gaps.

Preparing Water Shortage Response Plans 331-300 (PDF)

Public Notification Handbook; EPA Publication 816-R-09-013 (PDF)

Public Notification Handbook for Transient Noncommunity Water Systems EPA Publication 816-R-09-009 (PDF)

Public Notification Helps to Protect Public Health 331-239 (PDF)

Responding to a Backflow Incident 331-494 (PDF) (Note: You can use the Drinking Water Warning: Backflow Incident Form—Word for public notification)

Responding to a Threat Against a Water System 331-183 (PDF)

Responding to Pressure-Loss Events 331-338 (PDF) (Note: You can use the Drinking Water Warning: Loss of Pressure Form—Word for public notification)

Sumas Nooksack Flooding and Response 331-701 (PDF)

Translated Drinking Water Warnings 331-246 (.docx)

Treatment of Drinking Water for Emergency Use 331-115 (PDF)

Washington WARN—Washington's Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (PDF)

Water Main Break Response Protocol for Chlorinated Systems 331-583 (PDF)