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From the Water Quality Association
What You Should Know about the Coronavirus
What is COVID-19, how is it spread, and what are the symptoms?
COVID-19 (also known as the coronavirus disease 2019) is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), however the virus is commonly called the COVID-19 virus. The COVID-19 virus is part of a large family of viruses called coronaviruses, which typically cause respiratory tract infections. The virus is a “novel” coronavirus, meaning it is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. Symptoms of COVID-19 most commonly include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
I am having some work done on my house. Can the drinking water in my home be contaminated with COVID-19 by faucets, plumbing fixtures, fittings, filters or other products?
Based on studies with other coronaviruses the risk of this happening appears to be low. You are at a much greater risk through respiration and contact. Transmission through respiration occurs when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and others in close proximity inhale the virus. When an infected individual coughs or sneezes, the virus can also land on nearby surfaces, or it can be transmitted to doorknobs, countertops, and other surfaces through direct contact by an infected individual. Transmission by contact occurs when other people touch those surfaces and transfer the virus to themselves, often by then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
WQA has provided our industry professionals with technical guidance on how to avoid contributing to the spread of COVID-19 during installation and service calls. You can find a WQA professional in your area, or a WQA certified professional in your area, using the links provided below.
A salesperson is trying to convince me to purchase a drinking water treatment device that captures (kills or deactivates) COVID-19. Should I be worried about COVID-19 in my drinking water?
There is no evidence suggesting that you should be concerned about COVID-19 transmission through drinking water. Neither the CDC, the EPA or WHO has found any evidence of COVID-19 in drinking water supplies. And the COVID-19 virus is susceptible to common disinfection techniques that utilities use for treating drinking water.
Try contacting a WQA professional in your area. By going through the WQA website to find a water treatment provider you will be linked to professionals who have agreed to uphold and abide by WQA’s Code of Ethics for the Water Quality Improvement Industry, which includes avoiding the use of false or misleading statements that are intended to scare consumers into a purchase.
You can also go through WQA’s website to find a certified professional in your area. This will return only professionals who have:
I realize that there is no evidence I should be worried about COVID-19 in my drinking water, but I still want to purchase a treatment device that will provide a final barrier against COVID-19. Are there drinking water treatment products I can purchase that will capture, kill or deactivate COVID-19?
Yes, any product which is certified to remove bacteria, cyst and viruses under the U.S. EPA Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers, or under NSF P231, should also work with COVID-19. Likewise, any ultraviolet disinfection system (UV system) which is certified as a Class A Disinfection device under NSF/ANSI 55 should work with COVID-19. WQA certified products can be found here.