Planning for Pandemics Toolkit
How Are You Managing COVID-19?
Should your operator or other key personnel fall ill, how will your water or sewer system continue to operate?
Our Pandemic Preparedness webinar explains how small water and sewer systems can develop a plan for pandemics and other illness-related emergencies. The webinar (hosted live on March 16, 2020) can be viewed online. To access the webinar, please use the password: 2BePrepared
You also can download a PDF of the slides, prior to viewing the webinar.
Another COVID webinar was hosted on July 30th. Check out the PDF slides for more information about COVID-19 Financial Strategies to Help Small Systems.
How Are You Managing COVID-19?
RCAP is pleased to offer free N95 masks to small systems serving less than 10,000 people. We have a limited supply available on a first-come, first-serve basis, up to 105 masks per system.
Please visit this website to request yours today!
We want to thank Xylem Watermark and 120WaterAudit for their donations and support of this opportunity to help our communities!
OHWARN Covid-19 Mask Request
The Ohio Water / Wastewater Agency Response Network (Ohio WARN) has received a limited supply of washable, cloth masks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for distribution to water and wastewater facilities. Ohio WARN, in conjunction with Ohio EPA, ORWA, and ORCAP, is working to distribute the masks to Ohio Water and Wastewater utilities.
Due to the limited number of masks available, distribution is allocated at a rate of FIVE (5) face masks per utility full-time employee (FTE) with a cap of 250 FTE. If you are interested in obtaining cloth face masks, please complete this form. The form appears at the bottom of the page, along with points of distribution (PODs).
Distribution of these masks is on a first-come, first-served basis. Organizations are being asked to coordinate their response to ensure that only a single request is submitted per organization. For questions, please e-mail Ohio WARN or visit their website.
Notice to Operators (NPDES Reporting)
Ohio - Temporary Advisory for NPDES Reporting in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
In Ohio, if sampling cannot be completed, operators should utilize eDMR data substitution code “AH” (sample not taken) with a comment “COVID-19 Pandemic”. Please disregard the codes outlined in the US EPA NPDES memo.
Final Outfall Effluent sampling should be your highest priority. The greatest effort should be focused on it should there be sampling or staffing issues.
If your facility needs regulatory flexibility, OEPA needs you to make such a request formally through the email and guidance on this website: https://www.epa.state.oh.us/covid19
There are five specific questions that need answered in each request.
OEPA continues to update Ohio EPA’s Division of Surface Water COVID-19 website. Several quick-links have been added to the page below: https://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/covid19
Ohio HB 197
The Director of the Ohio EPA issued orders 3/31/20 regarding the reconnection of water service to customers whose water service has been shut off. The order and associated documents can be found at the following links:
This order suspending water service shut-offs was lifted as of July 10th. Please see our resources below to aid in continuing to suspend or resume shut-offs, along with examples of payment plan agreements and materials to help with customer outreach.
External Resources
Surface Water Division Coronavirus Guidance
Drinking & Groundwater Division Coronavirus Guidance