Tips for Re-opening a Business

June 4, 2020– As more counties move into the Yellow and Green phases of re-opening, here is information regarding the importance of flushing stagnant water out of buildings and appliances for businesses that have been closed: 

– Flush cold and hot water at all points of use (i.e., faucets, showers, toilets, drinking fountains, etc.)

– Run/flush all water using devices (i.e., run an empty load in dishwasher, discard ice from ice makers)

– Drain/clean water storage facilities and hot water heaters

Safe Drinking Water Around the Clock from NPWA

We understand this is a stressful time for our community and for the households we serve. Please know that we are here for you and are committed to taking all steps necessary to maintain safe, reliable water service.

You can continue your normal use of tap water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that Americans continue to use and drink tap water as usual.

For Drinking:

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “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.” The World Health Organization adds that the “presence of the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies and based on current evidence the risk to water supplies is low.” We monitor these systems daily and are currently well exceeding established standards for virus removal and/or protection.

For Handwashing:

Handwashing using tap water and soap is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19. CDC and other health organizations recommend frequent handwashing for at least 20 seconds each time. Up-to-date information from EPA on COVID-19 and water can be found here.

Keeping your water flowing:

We are well-prepared to continue providing water service throughout this pandemic. We have staff and infrastructure in place to maintain water service around the clock to help keep families healthy, clean and hydrated. As an essential, life-sustaining business, NPWA and Forest Park Water Treatment Plant staff are working around the clock to ensure regular operations and to keep the water running 24/7. Water main breaks, serious system leaks, and any other water-related emergency will be responded to as usual, with our on-call staff who are available on a 24/7 basis. Non-essential construction projects, including non-emergency replacement of water mains and service lines by contractors, will be postponed until further notice.

Given the importance of hygiene and sanitation to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are postponing water shutoffs until further notice.

Safety for our customers and employees is a top priority. Due to the necessity of the services we provide, we are taking precautions to protect the health of our workforce. Based on the recommendations set by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Montgomery County Officials, anyone entering NPWA’s office building must wear a mask and practice social distancing. Our Meter Technicians will resume house visits and will wear a mask when interacting with customers and inside their homes.

These are challenging times for our community and nation, but despite the many uncertainties regarding COVID-19, you can take comfort in the fact that the virus does not spread through drinking water supplies.

If you have questions or concerns, please call 215-855-3617 or email info@npwa.org. Please rest assured, access to high quality, safe drinking water will not be disrupted at all during this pandemic. We will continue to post updates for our customers as the situation evolves and new information becomes available.

Additional Resources

A Note on Protecting Your Pipes

Construction 

All construction has resumed in the green phase of Governor Wolf’s re-opening plan.