Covid-19 Drinking Water FAQs
Stafford County Utilities wants customers to know that providing a safe and reliable source of water is our priority. To support and protect the health of customers and employees, we strongly encourage customers to complete all transactions and manage payments electronically: ONLINE SERVICES
Yes. Existing treatment requirements, water quality standards and design standards for construction of drinking water treatment systems and wells address viruses and microbial pathogens, including the COVID-19 virus.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that Americans continue to use and drink tap water as usual. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated 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." Additionally, according to the CDC, COVID-19 is mainly thought to spread between people who are in close contact with one another and COVID-19 is not spread through drinking water.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) continues to enforce all regulations and treatment requirements for public water systems that prevent waterborne pathogens such as viruses from contaminating drinking water. During a pandemic, waterworks are required to maintain the same water quality standards.
VDH has reached out to waterworks owners and operators to provide information and encourage owners and operators to prepare for potential future events.
In addition, VDH is continually reaching out to waterworks owners and operators to discover if they are being impacted by COVID-19, for example, loss of operational staff, lack of supplies and chemicals, or loss of support services, such a water quality laboratory.