Maine CDC Drinking Water Program Update: COVID-19 Municipal Guidance: Designation of Critical Infrastructure Workers

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COVID-19 Municipal Guidance: Designation of Critical Infrastructure Workers

On March 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a guidance memorandum identifying essential critical infrastructure workers during emergencies, such as the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.  Essential critical infrastructure workers are defined as workers who conduct a variety of services and operations that are vital to continued critical infrastructure viability.  These workers play an essential role in sustaining and protecting their communities during emergency events.

Water and wastewater utility workers are included in this memorandum because they are needed to operate and maintain proper drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.  The water and wastewater workers identified as essential by DHS in the memo include: 

Water utility worker  

• Operational staff at water authorities; and/or

• Operational staff at community water systems; and/or

• Operational staff at wastewater treatment facilities; and/or

• Operational staff for water distribution and testing; and/or

• Operational staff at wastewater collection facilities; and/or

• Operational staff and technical support for SCADA Control systems;
   and/or

• Chemical disinfectant suppliers for wastewater and personnel protection;
   and/or

• Workers repairing water and wastewater conveyances and performing
   required sampling or monitoring; and/or

• Workers that maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting water and
   wastewater operations.

Guidance and the full memorandum on essential critical infrastructure workers can be found at the following website:
https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce.

At the current time, the Drinking Water Program does not have any official credentials, nor the authority to issue such credentials to drinking water and wastewater operators indicating that they are essential critical infrastructure workers.  It is recommended that operators print the DHS Memo and carry that with them as an alternative.

Note that this memorandum is meant only as guidance, not as a federal directive.  During an emergency, state and local officials lead response activities and operations in their jurisdiction.