The Woodlands Water Agency continues to monitor Coronavirus / COVID-19 guidance from federal and state government agencies. The emergence of COVID-19 has caused understandable questions about public health and local water supplies.

To be clear, the water supply in The Woodlands, as provided by the 10 municipal utility districts (MUDs) in our area, is safe. Water in The Woodlands continues to be certified by the State of Texas as a “Superior Water System.”

Federally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide helpful resources about COVID-19 and the safety of drinking water.

According to the CDC: “The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water. Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.”

More CDC information is available at:

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html

According to the EPA: “The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies. Based on current evidence, the risk to water supplies is low. Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual. EPA has established regulations with treatment requirements for public water systems that prevent waterborne pathogens such as viruses from contaminating drinking water and wastewater. COVID-19 is a type of virus that is particularly susceptible to disinfection and standard treatment and disinfectant processes are expected to be effective.”

More EPA information is available at:

www.epa.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-drinking-water-and-wastewater

Locally, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), which provides water to The Woodlands, advised: “As a wholesale water provider, the safety and health of the communities we serve is our top priority. The water professionals on our staff have always worked 24/7 year-round to maintain our quality of service to the community, and we will continue to do so through this COVID-19 event. Our water and wastewater treatment systems remain safe. We have already made plans in the event that there are any impacts to our supply chain, such as chemical and material suppliers. We continue to plan for successfully meeting the current challenges.”

Please continue to heed the public health guidance of federal and state officials, stay safe, and take care of your family and friends.