March 13, 2020 - COVID-19: West Carteret Water Corporation is closely monitoring concerns regarding Novel Coronavirus, now renamed COVID-19. Although WCWC already exercises strict sanitation techniques, we are making additional efforts, particularly in the Administrative Office to ensure that every precaution is taken when our staff is dealing directly with the public and each other.

From a water treatment standpoint, we have contacted suppliers and are also monitoring those vendors closely. To quote National Rural Water regarding the safety of public water systems, "At this time, existing safe management techniques in both drinking water and sanitation apply to COVID-19. Extra measures are not needed. In particular, disinfection treatment processes will facilitate more rapid die-off of the COVID-19 virus. Provision of safe water, sanitation and hygienic conditions play an essential role in protecting human health during all infectious disease outbreaks, including the current COVID-19 outbreak."

"Good and consistently applied hygiene in communities, homes, schools, workplaces, marketplaces and health care facilities will further help to prevent human-to-human transmission of COVID-19."

It is further noted that to you should:

-Stay at home if you are ill
-Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
-Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
-Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or, as a minimum, cough into your elbow, not the palm or back of your hand
-Discard tissues after EVERY use

Your upcoming water bill will include an insert about our upcoming Annual Membership Meeting, which also includes a Ribbon Cutting on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day (April 22, 2020). As such, at current, your Board and Management feel that it is too early to cancel or make changes. We will keep you posted as a decision is made in the future.

Should you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your water system.

Lisa D. Smith-Perri, GM/ED