by Paula Jackson
This article was published in the winter 2024–25 issue of our newsletter.
As we’ve seen in recent years, flooding events are becoming increasingly frequent in Vermont, and will likely continue to become more intense as climate change worsens. Flooding can cause contamination to the water supply, loss of power, damage to assets, safety hazards for operators, and many other issues.
With planning and preparation, water and wastewater systems can become more resilient to flooding. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines flood resilience as “the ability of water and wastewater utilities to withstand a flooding event, minimize damage, and rapidly recover from disruptions to service.”
Elijah Lemieux, Wayne Graham, Forest Anderson, and Edward Richard at the Hardwick Wastewater Treatment Facility after this July’s flooding.
The EPA created a guidance document called Flood Resilience: A Basic Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities. It provides step-by-step guidance for systems to improve their flood resilience, including worksheets, videos, and case studies.
The following steps for improving flood resilience come from EPA’s guidance document:
Step 1: Understand the Threat of Flooding
Research past floods your town has experienced and use FEMA’s flood maps to identify areas vulnerable to flooding from storms and spring runoff. Be aware that flood maps are based on historical data, so they may not fully predict the risk of future flooding due to climate change. Also consider the possibility of floods caused by dam failures or water main breaks.
Step 2: Identify Vulnerable Assets & Consequences of Flooding
Compare the flood maps with locations and elevations of assets like buildings, equipment, generators, chemical/fuel tanks, storage tanks, collection/distribution pipes, and pump stations. Determine the consequences to operations and repair/replacement costs if these asset were to flood. Use this to prioritize which assets most need protection.
Step 3: Consider Mitigation Measures
Mitigation measures may include construction projects, modifications to assets, standard operating procedures, or educating your consumers on what to expect. Examples include constructing flood barriers or moving electrical equipment above flood level. EPA’s flood resilience guide has a great list of mitigation measures to protect a variety of assets at water and wastewater systems.
Step 4: Develop an Implementation Plan
Assign responsibilities to staff, board members, and other public works personnel to develop standard operating procedures, identify funding sources, and accomplish projects in-house if possible. Flood mitigation measures that require major capital and infrastructure investments should be integrated into the utility’s overall asset management planning process. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program may be a good funding source for these projects.
Forest Anderson and Wayne Graham help with repairs at the Plainfield Wastewater Treatment Facility after flooding this July.
Safety
In addition to protecting the utility’s assets, planning for the safety of staff during flooding events should be of the highest priority. Standard operating procedures for safety during a flood should be developed and implemented. Here are some recommendations to consider:
Implement a buddy system so no one is working by themselves in a potentially dangerous environment.
- Do not drive vehicles into flood waters!
- Allow staff to secure their homes and families before coming back to the treatment plant during flooding.
- Identify safety procedures specific to your facility.
- Have proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for all workers, including:
- Personal floatation devices that are easy to work in and comfortable
- Hard hats with a chin strap and a light
- Leather gloves and chemical-resistant gloves
- Eye protection
- Respirators and N-99 masks
- Steel shank rubber boots