Building a Business Case for WARN Participation: Fid-Bau Portal

Building a Business Case for WARN Participation

Blankenship, Linda / Morley, Kevin M.

This article discusses the Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) program that encourages utilities to help one another in response and recovery efforts. The concept grew out of a series of wildfires and earthquakes in California in the early 1990s that affected a number of water systems. Further information on WARN's development is provided, along with the WARN concept of intrastate networks offering utilities added security by being there to help each other when emergencies arise. An AWWA‐initiated study and report on the economic benefits to utilities of participating in a WARN is discussed. The report is titled, “Economic Benefits of Participating in a Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN),” and provides a general reference for business case analysis of participating in a WARN, and guidance for utility managers on the strategy, potential benefits and outcomes, costs, and resource implications for WARN members responding to various types of incidents. The article discusses the significance of the comprehensive survey that was the core of the study, along with the benefits of WARN participation both tangible and intangible, and costs associated with WARN participation. The AWWA report presents three utility case studies that demonstrate the efficacy of WARN membership.