Covid-19

AMWA and its partners are continuing to monitor the ongoing worldwide spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

On March 13, President Trump declared a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act and a nationwide emergency under the Stafford Act. A 2016 fact sheet from FEMA summarizes what Stafford Act assistance may be available during an outbreak.

According to a recent technical brief from the World Health Organization, utilities can continue using standard treatment measures for both water and wastewater. CDC has released similar guidance. It has also noted that wastewater workers are not at any elevated risk of exposure and may continue to follow their current policies for using personal protective equipment.

CDC has shared information on prevention and treatment practices and will post further situational updates to its COVID-19 webpage as they become available. WaterISAC is also tracking the virus and updates its coronavirus page regularly with new information about both its spread and its potential impacts on the water sector. Such impacts may include increased absenteeism, as employees become ill or care for family members, and disruptions to utility supply chains. Consequently, it is prudent for utilities to begin reviewing their pandemic and continuity of operations plans.

The DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released a CISA Insights bulletin addressing how organizations can manage risks associated with COVID-19. The document describes infrastructure protection measures, supply chain risks, and cybersecurity best practices that organizations should consider as they move to mitigate operational impacts of COVID-19.