(March 20, 2020) – As the impacts from the COVID-19 outbreak continue to spread across the country, NACWA is committed to providing the highest level of service and resources to its members during this difficult time. Member utilities are doing incredible things to keep their staff and communities safe and their utilities providing service without disruption that all clean water agencies can benefit from.

To help NACWA’s utility members share best practices and information regarding the management of the COVID-19 emergency, the Association has created a website with a list of documents provided by utility leaders to assist fellow utility leaders in adjusting their planning and operations in response to the virus.  The documents include Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans, Emergency Response Plans (ERPs), outreach to staff, media messaging, HR policies to address telework and leave considerations, and other relevant and appropriate information that has been shared by our utility leaders. 

The website also includes helpful information related to COVID-19 for clean water utilities from other sources like the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO). 

NACWA will continue to add resources to its COVID-19 page as it receives additional information.  If you would like to contact one of the utilities that has provided a document and need contact information, or if your utility has a related document that you can share for the e-library, please contact Nathan Gardner-Andrews, NACWA’s General Counsel & Chief Advocacy Officer.

Following up on a March 12 NACWA Board of Directors discussion on COVID-19, which included presentations from utility executives in Washington State and their response to the State of Emergency declared there, NACWA plans to host a webinar for all members and non-member utilities in the near future on COVID-19 and how utilities can best respond.  Details on the webinar will be provided as they become available. 

NACWA staff are currently teleworking but remain available to all members via normal email and phone contacts.  Please do not hesitate to contact the appropriate staff if there is any assistance we can provide to you and your utility.  NACWA sincerely thanks its members for all they are doing to protect public health and serve their communities during this challenging time.