The Imo State Water and Sewerage Corporation (ISWSC) successfully conducted a one-day workshop on Risk Resilience and Emergency Response (RRER) at the Corporation’s Headquarters on 19th November 2025. The workshop was organized to strengthen the Corporation’s capacity to effectively manage, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disruptions affecting water supply and sanitation services across the state.
The resource person, Engr. Maduakolam Stanly Chimaeze, delivered an extensive and insightful presentation on the ISWSC RRER Plan—described as the operational blueprint guiding all emergency-related activities within the Corporation. He emphasized that the mandate of the RRER framework is to ensure that residents of Imo State consistently have access to safely managed water and sanitation services. His lecture highlighted the key purposes for establishing the RRER structure, which include:

Enhancing preparedness across critical infrastructure such as treatment plants, pumping stations, distribution networks, management units, and sewerage systems.

Ensuring clear and streamlined communication among all departments and emergency teams.

Promoting coordinated and well-articulated responses among team members during emergency situations.

Safeguarding the health and safety of staff, customers, and communities during operational disruptions.

Ensuring continuity of water supply and sanitation services during emergencies and throughout post-incident recovery.

Engr. Chimaeze further elaborated on the core objectives of the RRER Plan to ensure participants gained a comprehensive understanding. These objectives include:

Timely identification and assessment of operational, environmental, and security risks that could affect service delivery.

Establishing clear procedures and protocols for emergency preparedness, response, and recovery operations.

Promoting health and safety measures that protect staff during emergencies and high-risk conditions.

Safeguarding critical water production, distribution, and sanitation assets to minimize service disruption.

Maintaining uninterrupted essential services for customers, institutions, and communities.

Strengthening coordination and collaboration with governmental agencies, LGAs, communities, and relevant stakeholders.

Ensuring continuous learning and improvement after emergency events through reviews and evaluations.

During the session, the facilitator also offered detailed explanations on the roles and responsibilities of the RRER structure, highlighting the three major operational layers:

RRER Steering Committee – Management Level responsible for leadership decisions, resource allocation, and policy direction.

RRER Technical Unit – Operational Coordination Level, which oversees planning, monitoring, and coordinating emergency actions.

Facility & Zonal Emergency Teams, mandated to carry out field-level response and ensure swift operational interventions.

He also discussed essential components that guide the Corporation’s emergency-response efforts, including:

Risk Identification and Assessment

High-Priority Risk Scenarios

Critical Assets Register

Hazard Vulnerability Mapping

Emergency Preparedness Procedures

Communication Platforms and Protocols

Operational Action Plans

Incident Command Structure

The workshop concluded with an interactive session, during which Engr. Chimaeze addressed participants’ questions, welcomed contributions, and provided further clarifications to ensure full comprehension of the RRER framework and its importance to the Corporation’s mission.
The event ended with a group photograph to serve as documentation and future reference.

Uzoamaka Odom

Communication Officer