Outbreak does not affect water departments

The Chicago Department of Water Management and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago announced that both agencies are continuing operations through the COVID-19 outbreak and facilities continue to operate.

The agencies assured residents that water treatment processes are highly effective at killing microbes, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID- 19 outbreak. The agencies reiterated that there is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through drinking water or sewage, but added that avoiding sewage water greatly reduces the overall risk of disease, according to a press release.

As a reminder, residents are asked to only flush toilet paper because alternative materials risk clogging either home plumbing or the municipal sewer, which can lead to basement backups. For more tips on preventing basement backups, visit mwrd.org.

Residents are asked to avoid contact with waterways and to reschedule water recreation if possible. While it is unknown if it is possible to contract COVID- 19 through exposure to waterways, a number of other pathogens are present in waterways that pose health risks. People exposed to water from waterways should clean thoroughly with soap and water.