Coronavirus (COVID-19) is known to spread from person to person through close contact, similar to how the flu is transmitted.
There is currently no evidence to support that COVID-19 is transmitted through drinking water.
In Washington County, Oregon, the Joint Water Commission (JWC) Water Treatment Plant is the primary drinking water supplier. Four agencies share ownership in the JWC – the Cities of Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Beaverton, and the Tualatin Valley Water District (TVWD). The JWC also wholesales water to the City of North Plains, and the City of Cornelius receives JWC water through the City of Hillsboro.
Water treated by the JWC Water Treatment Plant, and then served by the JWC partners to their respective customers continues to be safe to drink and use.
At the JWC Water Treatment Plant, water is drawn out of the upper Tualatin River, then thoroughly treated to remove particles, viruses, bacteria, and other organisms from the drinking water, including COVID-19. Learn more about how the water treatment process keeps drinking water safe.
The drinking water produced by the JWC Water Treatment Plant exceeds all regulatory testing requirements and compliance standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Act.
Prior to resuming normal building use, building owners and managers are encouraged to take precautions to ensure safe water and protect public health.
When water sits for too long in the plumbing systems of vacant or low use buildings, it can become stagnate and may cause water quality problems and health risks. To ensure safe water and protect public health, the Oregon Health Authority advises building owners and managers to follow four steps to flush building plumbing before resuming regular building use.
Resources
Questions
- Call: 503-615-6702
- Mail: Joint Water Commission, 150 East Main Street, Third Floor, Hillsboro, OR 97123