Michigan Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (MiWARN) is a Statewide network of member utilities designed to facilitate a mutual aid and assistance approach to providing assistance during times of crisis by utilizing a utilities helping utilities network.
MiWARN membership:
- Is provided at no cost to utilities.
- Provides access to specialized equipment and personnel to assist in times of emergency.
- Paves the way for member utilities within (and outside) of their respective states to send and/or receive valuable aid in a quick and efficient manner.
- Allows access to specialized resources to assess and assist water and wastewater systems, as well as public works agencies until a permanent operating solution is developed in place.
Emergencies are an unavoidable fact of life. Water and wastewater systems provide our communities with life-sustaining resources of vital importance to maintaining public health, sanitation and safety. When water and wastewater services are interrupted for extended periods of time, a community’s well-being quickly deteriorates.
MiWARN communities can quickly access needed resources, including trained and licensed personnel, equipment and other resources that are needed to respond and recover quickly.
MiWARN Membership provides community utilities with a Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement that allows communities to receive aid and assistance during an emergency without cost of the assistance.
MiWARN works like an insurance policy to aid utilities in times of disaster.
By joining MiWARN, you can rest assured that the help you need will be available when your community needs it most of all.
Joining MI-WARN gives utilities and public agencies a reliable way to support each other during emergencies, while also strengthening day-to-day preparedness and professional collaboration.
Some of the biggest reasons organizations join include:
- Access to mutual aid during emergencies – Members can quickly request or provide personnel, equipment, materials, and expertise during events like flooding, cyber incidents, PFAS-related emergencies, power outages, infrastructure failures, or severe weather.
- Faster response and recovery – Because agreements and processes are already in place before an emergency happens, utilities can mobilize support much more quickly than trying to establish help in the middle of a crisis.
- No-cost membership – MI-WARN participation is typically free, making it a cost-effective preparedness tool for utilities of all sizes.
- Stronger regional relationships – Membership builds connections among water and wastewater professionals across Michigan, creating trusted partnerships before emergencies occur.
- Training and preparedness resources – Members gain access to training opportunities, exercises, communication tools, and best practices that help utilities improve resilience and emergency planning.
- Protection of public health and the environment – Rapid coordination and resource sharing help utilities maintain critical water and wastewater services that communities depend on every day.
- Support for small and rural systems – Smaller utilities that may not have extensive internal resources gain access to a statewide network of assistance and expertise.
- Professional collaboration – MI-WARN encourages knowledge sharing among operators, managers, engineers, and emergency response professionals, strengthening the industry overall.
To join MiWARN email or call the MWEA office (517-641-7377)