Protecting Your Water

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As we all work together to fight the spread of the coronavirus, Arizona’s water providers can take great pride in knowing they are playing a critical role in public health. It starts with the delivery of clean water to homes and businesses.

So when it comes to the quality of water, there is no higher priority for EPCOR than protecting the health and safety of our customers and the communities we serve.

Our dedicated employees – 350 strong– have increased our already stringent water quality and safety protocols, testing systems daily and adhering to strict federal and local guidelines.

This includes monitoring at various stages of the water cycle — from wells and mains to the treatment plants and the tap itself. Our testing looks for microorganisms, such as bacteriaandviruses, as well as organic and inorganic contaminants and chemicals.

This allows our customers to take one of the most meaningful actions shown to slow the spread of COVID-19: Washing their hands. This simple act has become one of the frontline defenses advocated by public health officials to maintain our livelihood and keep our communities safe.

In addition to water safety, we’ve enacted other emergency protocols, such as putting in place physical distancing for workers in the field who are repairing water lines, wells and equipment to ensure water flows efficiently. We’ve temporarily closed our in-person customer service locations and suspended in-person payments.

And we’ve suspended disconnections and restored water service to customers who may have been previously disconnected. Some customers have been impacted financially by this crisis, but their health and well-being shouldn’t suffer because of it.

These and other emergency protocols were enacted months ago when the virus was just beginning to spread. It’s important that we safeguard our team – and you – by limiting exposure.

Finally, it’s important to know that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that the virus that causes COVID-19 has not been detected in treated drinking water.  This is because water treatment plants use filters and disinfectants to remove or kill germs, like the virus that causes COVID-19. That’s good news for water providers and the customers we serve.

These are stressful times, and the last thing customers need to worry about is the safety of their water. We’re all doing our part to make sure they don’t have to!