Below is a letter Andrew R. Wheeler, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, sent to Florida Governor DeSantis regarding the Water Treatment industry being “essential:”
I want to thank you for your efforts to protect the health of your citizens during these challenging times and personally offer the support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further our shared mission of protecting all Americans. EPA’s core charge of protecting human health and the environment includes combating Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) together with our state partners. Ensuring that drinking water and wastewater services are fully operational is critical to containing COVID-19 and protecting Americans from other public health risks. Handwashing and cleaning depend on providing safe and reliable drinking water and effective treatment of wastewater.
In response to the Presidential Declaration of a National Emergency for the COVID-19 outbreak, I am writing to you to request that water and wastewater workers, as well as the manufacturers and suppliers who provide vital services and materials to the water sector, are considered essential workers and businesses by state authorities when enacting restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19. Our critical infrastructure and the operators who ensure the safe supply of water to our homes and hospitals depend on treatment chemicals, laboratory supplies and related goods and materials.
You can find more of the letter here.