The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has announced the release of the new Water Sector Resource Typing Guidance, which it developed in collaboration with FEMA. The new guidance replaces the 2008 AWWA Water/Wastewater Mutual Aid and Resource Typing Manual. Of the 36 water sector resource types documented in the updated guidance, which are categorized by personnel, teams, and equipment, 26 have been finalized and incorporated into FEMA’s Resource Typing Library Tool. The remaining ten are “recommended” and will undergo additional consideration by FEMA.

Resource typing is an essential component of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), establishing a common language for identifying equipment, teams, units, and personnel that can be used to support incident response. Resource users at all levels use the typing definitions as a consistent basis when inventorying their resources for capability estimation, planning, and for mobilization during mutual aid efforts. The updated guidance also supports the requirement for community water systems to develop emergency response plans (ERPs) under the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018. Specifically, systems must identify actions, procedures, and equipment that can be used for incident response in their ERPs.