Responding to COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. On March 11, 2020 WHO publicly characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild to severe, including death. Older people and those with underlying health conditions seem to be at higher risk of severe illness from the virus. 

The presence of the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies. It has no impact on the quality or supply of your tap water. Per the EPA, Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual.

The Orange County Water District manages the Orange County Groundwater Basin which supplies up to 77% of local drinking water supplies. OCWD delivers water of the highest quality that meets all stringent state and federal drinking water requirements. The District tests for more than 500 compounds, many more than required by state and federal laws and regulations. It tests water from approximately 1,500 locations throughout the basin, analyzes more than 20,000 samples each year and reports more than 400,000 results to ensure your water meets rigorous water quality standards.

Additional information regarding COVID-19 and water:
   -  WHO Guidance
   -  CDC Guidance  
   -  State Water Resources Control Board Fact Sheet
   -  State Water Resources Control Board Fact Sheet on Recycled Water

OCWD's Green Acres Project (GAP) is a water reuse effort that provides recycled water for landscape irrigation and industrial uses to the cities of Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Santa Ana.

GAP water is filtered and then disinfected with chlorine per state requirements in order to kill pathogens like the novel coronavirus. Similar enveloped viruses like the original SARS coronavirus have been shown to be very susceptible to chlorination.

For additional information on OCWD's GAP program, please visit https://www.ocwd.com/what-we-do/water-reuse/green-acres-project/.

Water providers are required to provide their customers an annual water quality report (sometimes called a consumer confidence report). Contact your water provider or visit OCWD's local water providers page to view a copy of this report.

While it is always advisable to stock bottled water at home in case of emergencies that disrupt the water supply, OCWD does not expect this health outbreak to disrupt service to local water providers.

For additional information regarding COVID-19, please visit the following websites:

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• California Department of Public Health
• OC Health Care Agency
• World Health Organization
• Governor Gavin Newsom Issues Stay At Home Order