The Clock is Ticking: December 31, 2025 AWIA Deadline for Cities of 50,000–100,000 Residents

If your city serves between 50,000 and 100,000 people, an important federal deadline is coming fast. Under the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA), community water systems of this size must recertify their Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) by December 31, 2025.

What is an RRA?

A Risk and Resilience Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of your city’s drinking water system. It looks at:

• Physical assets such as pipes, pumps, treatment facilities, and distribution networks.

• Cybersecurity vulnerabilities, including SCADA systems and remote monitoring tools.

• Natural hazards like floods, droughts, or extreme weather events.

• Chemical handling and storage risks.

• Financial and operational resilience—how the system recovers and continues operating under stress.

  
  

The RRA isn’t just a paperwork exercise—it’s meant to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize improvements to keep your city’s water supply safe, reliable, and compliant.

Why December 31, 2025 Matters

The AWIA requires water utilities to recertify their RRA every five years. For cities in the 50,000–99,999 population bracket, the five-year cycle closes on December 31, 2025. Missing this deadline means falling out of compliance with federal law, which could lead to enforcement action and increased scrutiny from regulators.

How to Stay on Track

• Start early. A thorough assessment can take months to complete.

• Engage experts. Many utilities lean on third-party consultants to guide cybersecurity, resilience planning, and hazard modeling.

• Update, don’t just copy. Regulators expect the new RRA to reflect current threats, technology, and infrastructure—not just a repeat of 2020’s submission.

• Plan for the ERP. Remember, your Emergency Response Plan must be updated and certified within six months of your RRA, meaning June 30, 2026 for this group.

  
  

How LSPS Solutions Can Help

At LSPS Solutions, we specialize in helping municipalities navigate AWIA compliance. Our team can manage the entire RRA process—conducting the assessment, documenting findings, and preparing the certification—so your city stays on schedule and in compliance without overloading your staff. We also help align the RRA with your upcoming Emergency Response Plan update, ensuring a smooth, integrated process.

Final Thoughts

December 31, 2025, may sound far away, but in terms of municipal planning and budgeting, it’s right around the corner. Cities that start now will have time to conduct a meaningful assessment, engage stakeholders, and use the results to strengthen both compliance and resilience.

If your water system serves between 50,000 and 100,000 people, don’t leave your RRA to the last minute—let LSPS Solutions handle it for you so you can stay focused on serving your community.