What does operational preparedness mean for water utilities?

The risks facing water utilities are growing and evolving. Climate change is driving more frequent and severe weather events. The Maribyrnong River flood in 2022, one of the largest on record, led to hundreds of homes being inundated and prompted a major review of flood modelling and mitigation strategies.

Utilities must also contend with other natural hazards and disasters, cybersecurity threats, terrorism and supply chain disruptions. In the United States, for example, the Environmental Protection Agency requires utilities serving more than 3,000 customers to conduct regular risk and resilience assessments. Increasingly, utilities are expected to take a holistic approach, considering all possible vulnerabilities in their systems.

Operational preparedness for risk starts with a thorough understanding of potential threats. Key actions include:

• Risk and resilience assessments: Bringing together management, operators and supply chain partners to identify process weaknesses, critical infrastructure and develop mitigation strategies. Many utilities use facilitated workshops and scenario planning sessions to help see the bigger picture.
• Scenario planning: Modelling a wide range of possible events, not just the most likely ones. This includes considering a range of plausible scenarios, such as sea level rise, natural disasters or catastrophic infrastructure failure.
• Emergency response planning: Developing clear protocols for responding to incidents, from natural disasters to cyberattacks. This includes regular training exercises, public education campaigns and simulation drills for floods and wildfires to test and refine response strategies.
• Real-time monitoring and early warning systems: Investing in technologies that provide up-to-the-minute data on water levels, quality and system performance. For example, real-time flood modelling and forecasting can support evacuation and emergency response during major weather events.
• Collaboration and knowledge sharing: Working with industry peers, government agencies and technical specialists to stay ahead of emerging risks and share lessons learned.

At GHD, we have supported utilities by developing real-time water level monitoring and predictive modelling to aid emergency response during major weather events. For wastewater and stormwater, we’ve built network and asset management models to understand network performance under a range of circumstances. We’ve also assessed pump station and wastewater treatment plant criticality for natural disasters. We’ve facilitated emergency response planning and simulation exercises to help utilities improve their operational preparedness. By combining proactive planning with reactive capabilities and deploying both tried-and-tested solutions with innovative technologies, water utilities can build resilience and adapt to whatever comes their way.

While the importance of operational preparedness is widely recognised, implementing effective strategies can be complex. One ongoing challenge is the evolving nature of climate risks. The 2024 Melbourne flood demonstrated that even with improved forecasting and flood models, cities can still experience significant disruption, including road closures and property inundation.

Another consideration is the reliance on existing guidelines, which may not always reflect the latest scientific understanding. This can result in a cautious approach that does not fully address the range of potential risks and how quickly they can materialise. Investment in scenario modelling, data tools and comprehensive risk management varies across the sector, and some utilities may face constraints in resources or internal capacity.

Budget limitations and competing priorities can also influence the extent to which utilities invest in future preparedness planning. While there are examples of innovative projects and advances in operational preparedness, there remains an opportunity for broader adoption of these practices.

The reality is that water utilities can’t predict every possible event, but they can invest in operational preparedness to build resilience against the unexpected. This means moving beyond minimum compliance and embracing a culture of continuous improvement, scenario planning and investment in new technologies.

One promising approach is the adaptive pathways model, which encourages utilities to plan for a range of possible futures rather than relying on a single forecast. By considering multiple scenarios and building flexibility into their systems, utilities can adapt as conditions change — whether that’s due to climate, technology or other emerging risks.

In a world where the only certainty is uncertainty, operational preparedness isn’t just a box to tick, it’s an ongoing commitment to safeguarding our most vital resource. Investing in people, processes and technology today, with our support, will help water utilities weather whatever tomorrow brings.