As we all navigate this stressful time in our communities and in our homes, we should be comforted by the high level of dedication, customer service, and professionalism of local agency public works and public services departments. We may often take for granted that we can turn on our faucets and flush our toilets, but this doesn’t happen by magic or by accident. Our public works providers, regardless of what is going on the world, continue their tireless work to provide high-quality drinking water and wastewater services.
I recently had the opportunity to participate in webinars hosted and organized by the Michigan Water Environment Association, the Michigan Section of American Water Works Association, and the Michigan Rural Water Association. These agencies brought together local public service providers who described practices and operations that have been put in place to protect employees and maintain high-quality customer service.
Many best practices being enacted now are outlined in standard operating procedures for emergency situations, but there are some I want to highlight here as you consider your response.
This handout from the Michigan Rural Water Association lists some essentials of Critical Operations Preparedness. Below are some of the common practices shared during recent webinars:
- Communities should consider signing up for Mutual Aid Agreement through MIWARN. MIWARN is a statewide Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) of “members helping members” to prepare for the next natural- or human-caused emergency. MIWARN provides utilities and public works agencies with a Mutual Aid Agreement for sharing resources in an emergency to a pre-determined and agreed manner.
- Communities respond when can offer assistance
- There are more than 100 volunteer licensed operators in the state. Licensed operators may sign up to be a volunteer.
- MWEA, MI-AWWA, and MRWA maintain this list. If a community needs an operator, they can email one of these organizations, indicate which level of license is needed, and the community will receive a list of volunteer operators in their area that hold the required license(s).
- Many utilities have limited staff/essential staff only and/or are rotating shifts.
- If the utility is big enough, consider two weeks (or one week) on, two weeks off to give that 14-day window to monitor for symptoms/exposure.
- Emphasis on office and vehicle space cleaning and disinfection.
- Deep cleaning of work areas and facilities.
- Non-essential activities like hydrant flushing and valve turning have been postponed.
- Utility workers are only entering homes for emergency situations.
- When two workers need to work together, face masks clipped under hard hats; and appropriate PPE use depending on situation.
- Communities are also relying on licensed consultants/contractors to assist.
- Most communities are paying workers to be home as long as they are available to be at work if needed. All after-hours calls are overtime as typical.
- Essential operations such as public works and police limiting to one employee per vehicle.
- In a few communities, employees are required to take temperature daily at home before work to monitor for symptoms. If 99.8 or higher, it’s elevated and they should stay home.
- Most communities just say that if you are sick, stay at home.
- Employees receive assignments from supervisors in DPW yard; no congregating in common areas.
- Maintain social distancing, even in yard.
- Vehicles sanitized between shifts.
- Lunch/break times staggered to reduce employee contact.
- Lunch/break rooms in use, but maintain social distancing.
- Many are taking breaks on the road in their vehicles.
- Supplies
- Most are in good shape; however, many are ordering extra supplies at this time.
- Put in place a backup supplier list.
- Other essential staffing
- Parks/Rec primarily at home with exception of staff to keep parks clean.
- Human Resources rotating staff so one person is in office; others are all working remotely.
- Someone still has to check mail, collect water bills, deposit checks; some communities are limiting the number of days onsite to just what’s needed to process payments.
- Utilities not performing shut-offs.
- Water quality testing
- Utilities are using city facilities, hydrants, and employee homes as Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) bacteriological testing locations. Communities should notify EGLE of sample site changes, even if temporary.
- What about lead and copper testing? On webinar, EGLE staff recommended that any Pb/Cu sampling be suspended during the Michigan stay-at-home order.
- Check EGLE Community Water Supply page for updates.
For more information and guidance, visit these association websites.
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