A Mutual Aid 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 emergency or disaster.
A forum for developing and maintaining emergency contacts and relationships.
How to participate in CoWARN?
Joining CoWARN is as simple as filling out a Mutual Aid Agreement and submitting it to the CoWARN website administrator, Kyra Gregory (kyra.greogry@sate.co.us). The CoWARN Mutual Aid Agreement is available to all public and private water and wastewater utilities in Colorado. When you become a member of CoWARN, participation in any emergency response is voluntary, and membership in CoWARN does not obligate members to offer or accept aid. All actions, recommendations, etc. are made in accordance with the articles of the CoWARN Mutual Aid Agreement.
CoWARN’s 2020 response
The global pandemic that began in 2020 presented many significant challenges to water and wastewater services in our state from COVID-19 itself, in response to heightened cybersecurity concerns, and devastating forest fires. The CoWARN steering committee took action to provide valuable resources to their members.
In spring 2020 CoWARN took swift action to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by distributing face coverings and establishing a list of individual operators willing to assist in staffing shortages caused by illness. In partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) CoWARN leadership and members worked to distribute over 60,000 cloth face masks. The mask distribution was in response to a general request for additional personal protective equipment from multiple water and wastewater utilities, as well as water industry organizations in the state of Colorado. CoWARN members volunteered and created four distribution sites across the state to ensure all water and wastewater utilities, regardless of type, size or affiliation, had an opportunity to obtain free PPE for workers. Special thanks to Parker Water and Sanitation District, Denver Water, Colorado Rural Water Association, and the city of Grand Junction for volunteering their time and resources to help protect water and wastewater employees in Colorado.
Due to the potential labor shortages that may accompany the COVID-19 pandemic, the CoWARN steering committee decided to invite individual water system personnel (contract operators, retired water system personnel, etc) to join CoWARN under an associate member account. The same tactic was used during the 2013 flood state emergency and it worked well. These individuals would be able to respond to assistance requests. Thank you to the over 180 operators who offered their assistance!
In addition to their COVID-19 response, CoWARN provided resources and guidance to systems to prepare for and potentially respond to security threats to their systems including cybersecurity as well as physical security threats. The CoWARN steering committee also provided outreach and resources to systems that experienced wildfires this summer and fall.
Looking ahead
CoWARN and its steering committee, made up of volunteers from the network’s members, now look to the future of emergency response in Colorado. The coming years will no doubt present new challenges to water and wastewater treatment. As you and your system look ahead to protect public health in the coming years CoWARN invites you to join their network of utilities helping utilities. Water and wastewater systems provide our communities with a life-sustaining resource that is of vital importance to maintaining public health, sanitation and safety. By restoring water and wastewater service in the most efficient manner possible, CoWARN provides renewed hope for fast recovery from disasters. Who is more likely to have that specialized pump or valve your system needs to get back on line in a hurry, and the staff with expertise to help get the job done right? That’s right, another water or wastewater system.
In addition, CoWARN is also inviting it’s members to participate in its steering committee. This is a group of volunteers who meet every-other month to discuss current issues arising in our state and communities. Steering committee members typically engage with CoWARN for less than 5 hours a month. This is a great way to impact the direction of emergency management response in your state with minimal additional work added to operator’s busy schedules. For more information on volunteering for the CoWARN steering committee contact kyra.gregory@state.co.us.
➽ Kyra Gregory, Drinking Water Training Specialist
