Can the Moapa Valley Water District (MVWD) continue providing water if COVID19 causes wide-spread community illness?
Yes. MVWD’s water treatment and delivery system is capable of treating and delivering up to 6,000,000 million gallons of drinking water per day. The water distribution system includes more than 180 miles of pipelines and numerous enclosed water storage tanks, pumping stations, and deep aquifer groundwater wells that can provide water to the Moapa Valley Communities under any number of emergency situations and scenarios. MVWD’s emergency response and readiness plans are in place and include provisions for providing water during emergency conditions that includes community-wide illness.
Should I stockpile bottled water as a result of COVID19?
While MVWD is prepared to provide water for the community under any number of emergency situations, including an outbreak of COVID19, local residents may implement their own individual readiness and preparedness plans for emergency situations as they deem appropriate. Our community’s drinking water supplies meet or surpass federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. Even under extreme circumstances, provisions are in place to make water available from groundwater wells and/or through other operational strategies.
Are there any risks of COVID19 being transmitted through drinking water supplies?
According to health officials, COVID19 is primarily transmitted person-to-person – there is no indication that transmission can occur via drinking water supplies. MVWD’s drinking water is treated using chlorination. Chlorination, which is used throughout MVWD’s water distribution systems, is extremely effective at destroying virus and microorganisms during the water treatment process and maintaining disinfection throughout the water system.
What steps is MVWD taking to ensure COVID19 does not interrupt water system operations?
MVWD maintains emergency response and readiness plans to help maintain water system operations during natural disasters, community-wide illness, and other emergency situations. Provisions are also in place to ensure appropriate water treatment supplies and resources are available to sustain water delivery for an extended period of time, even if supply chains are temporarily disrupted during an emergency.