Welcome to the ACWA tool for state, interstate, and other-entity resources on COVID-19.

We are identifying key concerns and open questions regarding COVID-19’s impacts to clean water programs, as well as emerging issues inhibiting clean water program implementation. Because operating environments are constantly changing, ACWA is working to support peer-to-peer information sharing as frequently and expeditiously as possible. If you have any concerns, resources, or updates to contribute, please email jadler@acwa-us.org.

This tool is now updated on an ad-hoc basis. Last Update: 2/25/2021. 
This tool was adapted from a webpage posted in March 2020.

State/Interstate-specific Resources: Click Here

Federal and International Guidance

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• National Wastewater Surveillance Systems (NWSS)
  • NWSS as of 8/31/2020: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with agencies throughout the federal government, are initiating the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The data generated by NWSS will help public health officials to better understand the extent of COVID-19 infections in communities.CDC is currently developing a portal for state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments to submit wastewater testing data into a national database for use in summarizing and interpreting data for public health action. Participation in a national database will ensure data comparability across jurisdictions.Data from wastewater testing is not meant to replace existing COVID-19 surveillance systems, but is meant to complement them by providing:
    • An efficient pooled community sample.
    • Data for communities where timely COVID-19 clinical testing is underutilized or unavailable.
    • Data at the sub-county level.
• Water Transmission and COVID-19
• Interim Guidelines for Public Health Communicators
• Clinical Quesitons about COVID-19 FAQ (see Waste Management section; 4-11-2020)

Department of Homeland Security

• Master List of Questions and Answers: COVID-19 and Water (38 pages)
• GUIDANCE ON THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE (3-19-2020)
• Pandemic Impacts to Lifeline Critical Infrastructure [Including Water and Wastewater]

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• *NEW: EPA WSD Releases Vaccination Information for Water & Wastewater Workers*
  • The EPA Water Security Division (WSD) released an updated website with Center for Disease Control (CDC) vaccination information for essential workers.  The CDC recommends states and local jurisdictions develop a phased approach for COVID-19 vaccinations. In defining essential workers, CDC references the Department of Homeland Security’s Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response Version 4.0 (PDF). This document recognizes water and wastewater workers, as well as the manufacturers and suppliers who provide vital services and materials to the water sector, as essential workers. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) Updated Interim Recommendation for Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine (December 22, 2020) recommends non-frontline essential workers, which include water utility workers, receive priority vaccination under Phase 1c. Although the CDC and ACIP provide vaccination recommendations, the final decisions for vaccine  planning and distribution occur at state and local levels. Water utility personnel should check with their local and state health departments (PDF) to confirm that they consider the water sector workforce as qualifying for vaccination under Phase 1c. The EPA website is available here.
• Water Utility COVID-19 Financial Impact Tool 7-9-2020
• EPA Enforcement Discretion Addendum Termination Memo 6-29-2020
• Frequent Questions about Wastewater and Septic Systems
• Maintaining or Restoring Water Quality in Buildings with Low or No Use (5/6/2020)
• EPA Letter to Governors Re: COVID-19 and Essential Workers (March 27, 2020)
• Memorandum on COVID-19 Implications for EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Program (March 26, 2020)
  • This policy applies retroactively beginning March 13, 2020 and has implications for state, local, and private partners.
• Coronavirus and Drinking Water and Wastewater
• Clearinghouse of Active Guidance Documents
• Resources for State, Local and Tribal Agencies and Associations
• Statement on Biosolids:
  • Do biosolids (treated sewage sludge) contain SARS-CoV-2 virus and can they be land applied safely? Existing requirements and guidance help ensure that biosolids are processed, handled, and land-applied in a manner than minimizes the risk of exposure to pathogens, including viruses. We have no evidence that biosolids contain infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus when requirements under 40 CFR part 503 are met for Class A biosolids. Generally, pathogens may exist when requirements are met under 40 CFR part 503 for Class B biosolids, which is why EPA’s site restrictions that allow time for pathogen degredation should be followed for harvesting crops and turf, for grazing of animals, and public contact. All requirements under 40 CFR Part 503 should continue to be met. Additionally, per CDC’s Guidance for Controlling Potential Risks to Workers Exposed to Class B Biosolids, employers should prevent work-related illness by providing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and supporting other health and safety practices for persons hauling and land applying biosolids. While no additional COVID-19–specific protections are recommended for the land application of biosolids, consider checking for advisories from your local health department.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• Wastewater Workers and Employers: COVID-19 Control and Prevention

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Structure of Novel Coronavirus SARS-COV-2 (3/3/2020)
• Water and Wastewater Transmission and COVID-19

United States (All Federal Agencies)

• US Government Response to COVID-19 Page (All Agency Activities)

Water Information Sharing & Analysis Center (WaterISAC)

U.S. water/wastewater associations and research foundations established WaterISAC in 2002, in coordination with EPA. WaterISAC was authorized by Congress in the 2002 Bioterrorism Act as the designated information sharing and operations arm of the Water Sector Coordinating Council.

• Coronavirus Pandemic

World Health Organization

• Novel Coronavirus: Introductory training for for public health professionals; incident managers; and NGO personnel
• Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19
• Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Waste Management Interim Guidance for COVID-19 (Issued 3-19-2020)

Water, Wastewater Organization Resources

American Water Works Associations (AWWA)

• Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA)

• COVID19 and Drinking Water

National Rural Water Association (NRWA)

• “NRWA is requesting each State [NRWA] Association compile a list of certified water and wastewater operators who might be available to provide on-site emergency assistance to systems if operators and technicians are impacted by COVID-19. State Associations should broadly reach out to develop a listing of available personnel, including to state agencies. This list can include retired or semi-retired operators, certified individuals not currently working as an operator, qualified consultants, or other related individuals. … If you are a retired or semi-retired operator, certified individual not currently working as an operator, qualified consultant, or other related individual willing to provide relief to systems that need backup coverage, please contact your state [NRWA] association.” Learn more here.

Water Environment Federation (WEF)

• Webcast Wastewater Epidemiology and Coronavirus (Public Service Announcement): What it does and does not tell us [Recorded April 24]
• Clean Water Act Regulatory Issues in a Pandemic – Webcast 3-20-2020
• Water and Wastewater Professional’s Guide to Novel Coronavirus
• Current Priority: Coronavirus
• PSA: Will It Flush?

Water Research Foundation (WRF)

• Novel Coronavirus Research Update 3-12-2020
• WRF Announces Structure, Co-Chairs for Virtual International Water Research Summit on Environmental Surveillance of COVID-19 Indicators in Sewersheds
• Webcast: Latest Coronavirus Research Update 3-16-2020
• Business Continuity Plans for Water Utilities

State and Local Association Resources

Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)

• Laboratory Professionals: COVID-19 Response
• Crisis Management Guidance for Public Health Laboratories
• Guidelines for the Public Health Laboratory Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)
• Emerging Infectious Diseases Planning and Response Framework

League of Cities

• COVID-19

National Association of Counties (NACO)

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): County Response Efforts & Priorities
• Coronavirus: More than 430 counties declare emergency

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)

• NCSL Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

National Governors Association (NGA)

Check for updates regarding emerging Governor Declarations and evolving state-wide policies.

• Coronavirus: What You Need To Know

Stateside Associates

• COVID-19: 2020 State Government Overview Report

Academia & Water Sector

• Peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology is making a special collection of articles, “Overview of Research on the Fate and Behavior of Enveloped Viruses in the Environment,” free to access here.
• Link to: Johns Hopkins Interactive COVID-19 Cases Map (scale: municipal to global)
• Stantec: White Paper Summary, Considerations for Water and Wastewater Treatment related to the recent outbreak (routinely updated)

Legislative Updates

• House approves $480 billion package to help small businesses and hospitals, expand Covid-19 testing (4/24/2020)
• Senate passes $484 billion coronavirus deal after weeks of deadlock (4/21/2020)
• Trump signs historic $2 trillion stimulus after Congress passes it Friday (3/27/2020)
• House passes historic $2 trillion stimulus despite objections from GOP lawmaker (3/27/2020)
• Senate approves historic $2 trillion stimulus deal amid growing coronavirus fears (3/26/2020)
• Wastewater Utilities Seek $12.5b for Virus-related Losses (3/20/2020 – access may require subscription)
• Trump signs coronavirus relief legislation into law (3/19/2020)