Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Drinking Water

COVID-19 has not been shown to be a waterborne disease. Based on current evidence, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the risk to water supplies is low and has advised that Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual.

Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the EPA.

Both the City of Sioux Falls Water Division and the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System use filtration and disinfection, practices shown to be effective in removing bacteria and viruses.

• The City’s Water Division and the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System utilize groundwater as their source of drinking water. Groundwater is naturally filtered, which removes most bacteria and viruses.
• Both facilities utilize lime softening along with filtration and chlorination, which have been shown to be effective in the removal of bacteria, viruses and other contaminants.

Furthermore, City of Sioux Falls Water Division lab analysts and state-certified water treatment operators perform hundreds of tests daily to ensure the treated water surpasses all EPA water quality standards. 

For further information, visit the following resources:

Key EPA Resources on COVID-19 https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus

EPA: Frequent questions about drinking water and wastewater and Coronavirus (COVID-19)