FAQs on Water and Wastewater Mutual Aid and Assistance

The NH Department of Environmental Services urges water and wastewater utilities to enter into mutual aid agreements. Utility recovery from disasters, man-made or natural, is extraordinarily important to the health and safety of served communities. DES in partnership with the water and wastewater industry are looking to increase participation in the existing intrastate mutual aid network now available to municipalities by joining the NH Public Works Mutual Aid Program. Participation will assure that utilities are prepared to assist each other when emergencies or disasters strike. The following are some frequently asked questions about what mutual aid is and how it works.

What is mutual aid and assistance?

• Mutual aid and assistance is one utility helping another based on a written agreement.

What is the purpose of mutual aid and assistance?

• It establishes an agreement and protocols for sharing resources among water and wastewater utilities statewide that is in place before disaster strikes.
• It provides a forum for establishing and maintaining emergency contacts.
• It provides access to specialized, certified, and knowledgeable utility personnel, heavy equipment, tools and supplies used by utilities.

Why is mutual aid and assistance important?

• Utility resources are specialized.
• Utilities must be self-sufficient and able to fill the gap before arrival of any governmental aid.
• Water and wastewater restoration is key to disaster response.

What are the benefits of a mutual aid and assistance program?

• Prompt and effective response.
• Low cost to participate ($25/year), akin to a low cost insurance policy to access resources when needed.
• In case of a federally declared emergency, it facilitates FEMA reimbursement since reimbursement is contingent upon a pre-existing, signed mutual aid and assistance agreement.
• Increases emergency preparedness and coordination.
• Provides a single agreement to access resources statewide.
• Expedites arrival of aid. Administrative items and protocols and all the paperwork are already worked out in advance for you.
• Agreement contains indemnification and worker’s compensation provisions to protect participating utilities.
• Provides reimbursement protocols.
• Does not require any disaster declaration to activate, which means utilities can request aid at almost any time (even for small scale events).

How does a utility use their mutual aid agreement during an emergency?

• Initial access may be made directly to other members or through a list serve and/or website.
• Members are able to match the equipment, skilled labor, and other resources that they need.

Are member utilities required to respond and send resources?

• There is no obligation to respond.
• The needs of your own community always come first.

My system is too small, so I have nothing to offer.

• Any assistance can be helpful to a system in need.
• Small systems may not have the equipment, but they have certified and knowledgeable personnel.

My system is too large. I will always be the one helping and no one can help me.

• Not true. It’s not just about equipment but personnel too, including administrative and secretarial assistance especially if a pandemic hits your system.
• When a major emergency hits hard, a large system will need all they help they can get, even if it comes from several different smaller systems.

What happens if a utility sends resources and needs them back?

• Under no circumstances is a utility to send resources if it impacts their ability to manage daily operations or response to its own emergency.
• It is up to the lending utility to determine what resources to send.
• Resources remain under the authority of the sending utility and as such can be recalled.

What happens if equipment on loan is damaged or stolen?

• The lending utility is responsible for insurance in case this happens.

How can I find out more information about the NHPWMAP?

• Additional information about the program can be found at www.t2.unh.edu/ma. There you will find program information, agreement, forms, inventory lists, FEMA forms, and a list of participating communities. There are also links to the website from the DES website at www.des.nh.gov/dwgb/EmergencyPlanning/default.asp?theLink=aid.

Questions?

If you have any questions about mutual aid or the NHPWMAP please contact :

Johnna McKenna NH Dept. of Environmental Services Drinking Water & Groundwater Bureau 603) 271-7017 jmckenna@des.state.nh.us

Circuit Rider for Mutual Aid David Danielson SEA Consultants Inc. (603) 225-7000 david.danielson@seacon.com

For Additional Information
For more information, please contact the Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau at (603) 271-2513 or dwgbinfo@des.state.nh.us, or visit our website at www.des.nh.gov/dwgb. All of the bureau’s fact sheets are on-line at www.des.nh.gov/dwg.htm.

Note: This fact sheet is accurate as of January 2007. Statutory or regulatory changes, or the availability of additional information after this date may render this information inaccurate or incomplete.