In the midst of unprecedented public health crises, we are here. We appreciate you and your work on behalf of your communities’ water supplies and health. Local water leaders are often unsung heroes, and that’s as true as ever in the time of COVID-19.
I could probably stop the blog there, but I want to share some great resources, including a peer-to-peer conversation we will be holding this Friday, April 3 at noon PDT.
No doubt you have seen many of the excellent COVID-19 resources now circulating for organizations and government entities, particularly with regard to communicating with the public around the safety of drinking water.
Here are a few of our favorites:
- The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators has a great webpage with a clickable map to get state-by-state info and an easy to read FAQ on coronavirus issues related to tap water safety and transmission
- American Water Works Association’s resource page is a bit more technical but very comprehensive.
- US EPA has a consumer-friendly fact sheet on COVID-19 on water and wastewater issues.
- Our friends at Moonshot Missions have put together a very comprehensive resource compendium for water and wastewater utilities.
And as so many have pointed out, staying connected during this time of social distancing is more important than ever. We are committed to creating spaces for mutual support, conversation, and resource sharing for local water leaders. Our first conversation will be held on Friday April 3 at 12pm PDT. You can register here and we’ll send you the Zoom link.
Our time together will be for sharing challenges, solutions, and inspirations at the level of local public water utilities. We’ll be exploring some big questions including:
What’s the local water leader’s role? How can utilities best communicate with customers? What’s the appropriate financial response? How can we ensure the health and safety of utility staff and continued operation of essential services? What resources are available to me and my community?
Join us for a rich, live-streamed conversation (with plenty of time for live Q&A and sharing audience experiences) featuring:
- Councilmember Anita Seitz, Westminster, CO
- Director Steve Elie, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, CA
- Former Councilmember Dave Richins, Mesa, AZ
- Councilmember Hattie Portis-Jones, Fairburn, GA
- Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells, Culver City, CA
We look forward to seeing you there, and we’ll keep in close touch with more such opportunities.
Thank you for all the work you do, particularly in this very challenging time.