Sonoma Risk and Resilience Assessment and Emergency Response Plan

Preparing for the unexpected has always been part of Sonoma Water’s operational philosophy. But as threats to water systems grow more complex, from wildfires and drought to cyberattacks and infrastructure vulnerabilities, the utility recognized a need to enhance its emergency preparedness and long-term resilience. To meet the requirements of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) and build a stronger foundation for risk management, Sonoma Water partnered with Carollo to update its Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) and Emergency Response Plan (ERP).

Carollo began the process by conducting a thorough emergency response gap analysis. This review assessed Sonoma Water’s existing ERP to validate its content and identify inconsistencies or areas for improvement based on preliminary RRA findings. To align the updated plans with both technical needs and organizational priorities, Carollo facilitated a hands-on workshop with staff and key stakeholders. The session focused on understanding risk tolerance, exploring resilience options, and identifying actionable strategies for reducing risk across Sonoma Water’s operations.

Insights from the workshops, document reviews, and stakeholder input were incorporated into the updated ERP, aligning it with AWIA certification standards and delivering it ahead of federal compliance deadlines. But the work didn’t stop at compliance. To support Sonoma Water in turning strategy into action, Carollo developed a detailed Implementation Schedule that outlined organization-wide recommendations identified through the planning process. The schedule included risk mitigation priorities, planning-level cost estimates, and timelines to help the utility advance its capital improvement planning with a clear, risk-informed roadmap.

The result is a forward-looking, actionable framework that equips Sonoma Water with the tools and strategies it needs to better anticipate, respond to, and recover from a broad range of emergencies. By combining regulatory compliance with practical implementation planning, Carollo helped Sonoma Water take meaningful steps toward building long-term resilience and safeguarding its critical services for the communities it serves.