On April 22, 2020

State takes additional precautions to protect Vermonters’ drinking water

With all the sacrifices Vermonters are making to keep themselves and others healthy during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is taking extra steps to ensure that no one has to wonder if their water is safe to drink, according to an April 10 news release.

DEC is working with drinking water system operators, providing guidance and support for disinfection procedures to keep drinking water safe and free of pathogens. Covid-19 is not transmitted through drinking water, however, it is important to make sure drinking water is free of other pathogens that can cause illness.

“For people who have or are at risk for Covid-19, it’s important to make sure their immune systems are not further compromised due to other pathogens that may be present in drinking water,” said DEC Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division Assistant Director Ellen Parr Doering. “Vermont’s public drinking water systems are designed to deliver safe drinking water. Especially during times of crisis like the pandemic, we are doing everything we can to protect the public health. Disinfecting systems will safeguard drinking water. These are extra steps we are taking. Residents can and should continue to use and drink water from the tap as usual.”

The department requires all community and public water systems to disinfect their water. Disinfecting, rather than more frequent testing, provides another layer of protection for Vermonters in case essential water system operators become ill, a concern when many water systems in Vermont only have a single operator.

Water is disinfected through a process called chlorination where chlorine is added to the water in low doses to kill pathogens that can affect human health. This process can also occur using ultraviolet disinfection. There is no additional testing at the tap required as a result of disinfection.

For private wells, no extra precautions are advised in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Health Department recommends bacteria testing once a year. For instructions on how to test your well, go to healthvermont.gov/environment/drinking-water.

The requirement for public water systems to provide continuous disinfection will stand until the end of the governor’s emergency declaration. Currently that is anticipated to be May 15, 2020, however, it may be extended as necessary. Drinking water operations are an essential function during this declared state of emergency, and water system operators continue to do all the required testing to ensure public water remains safe.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Calling out empty promises in state campaigns

October 16, 2024
By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the editor and publisher of the Addison Independent in Middlebury, a sister paper to the Mountain Times.  Vermont Republicans running for election to the House or Senate have two ready-made campaign issues — inflation and high property taxes — and many are using it to their full…

Nationwide multi-state settlement with Marriott amounts to $52 million

October 16, 2024
Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark announced on Oct. 9 that a coalition of 50 attorneys general has reached a settlement with Marriott International, Inc. after an investigation into a large multi-year data breach of one of Marriott’s Starwood guest reservation databases. Under the settlement, Marriott has agreed to strengthen its data security practices using a…

At their first debate, Vermont gubernatorial candidates point to state’s woes but disagree about who’s responsible

October 16, 2024
By Shaun Robinson/VTDigger Vermont’s leading candidates for governor agreed at a VTDigger debate Thursday evening that Vermont is worse off today than it has been in the recent past. But they disagreed, in many ways, on who exactly was to blame.  For incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who is seeking his fifth term in the state’s highest office,…

Treasurer announces $1.7 million to support Vermonters seekinghigher education degrees

October 16, 2024
On Oct. 2, Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced his office will distribute $1.7 million to the University of Vermont (UVM), the Vermont State Colleges (VSC), and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) to support Vermonters seeking a higher education degree. The funds come from investment earnings on the state’s Higher Education Trust Fund, which is managed…