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Ontario Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network

What is OnWARN?

OnWARN is a province-wide Water / Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) of "utilities helping utilities" to prepare for the next natural or human-caused emergency.

OnWARN mission

OnWARN's mission is to support and promote province-wide emergency preparedness, disaster response, mutual aid and assistance for public and private water and wastewater utilities for natural and human-caused events.


Why do we need OnWARN?

Water and wastewater systems provide our communities with a life-sustaining resource that is 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, as evidenced by Hurricane Katrina.  Without an adequate water supply, our communities are vulnerable to devastating fires.  By restoring water and wastewater service in the most efficient manner possible, OnWARN provides renewed hope for fast recovery from such disasters.

Why join OnWARN?

OnWARN provides water and wastewater utilities with:

  • a Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement and process for sharing emergency resources among water and wastewater agencies across the province,
  • a mutual assistance program consistent with other province-wide mutual aid and assistance programs and the Incident Management System,
  • the resources to respond to and recover more quickly from a natural or human-caused disaster,
  • a forum for developing and maintaining emergency contacts and relationships.

How to join OnWARN:

  1. Have your utility owner or owner representative (as may be permitted under by-law) sign the OnWARN Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement - which is available to all public and private water and wastewater utilities in Ontario.  
  2. Complete the OnWARN Emergency Contact Information Form.
  3. Return the signed OnWARN Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement and the OnWARN Emergency Contact Information Form to info@onwarn.org.
  4. OnWARN will follow-up with an OnWARN Member Certificate and include your key contacts on the list of OnWARN contacts.