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Our guest is Florida Water Quality Association President Kenny Gibson, discussing water quality issues in Florida following Hurricane Irma.
"For well water, it's very important well owners disinfect their equipment, disinfect their well, itself," said Gibson. "If these wells are under water don't assume their going to be okay." Plus we'll have important information about SBA loans available to small businesses affected by the big storm. Be sure to check out our new Crisis Response Blog and Flood Resources page for frequent updates on the hurricanes and WQA's response. Subscribe to WQA Radio on Google Play, iTunes and Stitcher. Learn more about Gold Seal | Professional Certification | Business Excellence | WQRF
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Hurricane Maria has now intensified to a Category 5 storm. One of the most important elements in any response to a natural disaster such as a hurricane, earthquake or major flooding event is access to safe drinking water for homes and businesses affected by the disaster. WQA has created a water safety guide to help those affected by natural disasters and severe weather. “This is going to impact all of Puerto Rico with a force and violence that we haven’t seen for several generations,” Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló told the Associated Press. “We’re going to lose a lot of infrastructure in Puerto Rico. We’re going to have to rebuild.” Continue to follow WQA's Crisis Response Blog and social media channels for updated information.  [Washington Post] The wicked 2017 hurricane season is set to deliver its next two punishing blows from Hurricanes Maria and Jose. In both the Caribbean and along the Atlantic coast of the Northeast United States, conditions are set to deteriorate rapidly through Wednesday as these storms arrive.
Of the two storms, however, Maria is the much more serious hurricane. The strengthening Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph has the potential to cause widespread destruction along its path from the central Lesser Antilles through Puerto Rico. “Maria is likely to affect Puerto Rico as an extremely dangerous major hurricane, and a hurricane watch is in effect for that island,” the National Hurricane Center said Monday. While Jose is capable of producing coastal flooding and pockets of damaging wind from Delaware to Massachusetts, its effects are most likely to resemble those of a strong Nor’easter – rather than a devastating hurricane. The Water Quality Association (WQA) has released a Water Safety Guide to help people affected by natural disasters such as hurricane and the subsequent flooding that is likely to occur. The guide features tips for what homeowners can do to prepare for a major storm as well as what to do during and after the storm hits.
“If bottled water is unavailable, any water used for drinking or cooking should be boiled or disinfected,” the guide recommends. “Residents should pay attention to local boil water alerts and other warnings following severe flooding because local water supplies can be tainted with debris, bacteria and other contaminants.” The guide also provides steps for properly boiling water or disinfecting water in the event the local water supply is compromised. During a flood, local water supplies can be tainted with debris, bacteria and other contaminants.
WQA Immediate Past President Don McGhee talks about the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey from Texas.
"This is a significant catastrophe for Texas," said McGhee. "But the outpouring of support both in man hours and people and in money and donations of things as critical as drinking water have been outstanding." WQA Government Affairs Director David Loveday will discuss the possibility of door-to-door scams in Texas. Plus we'll have tips for how to prepare for Hurricane Irma. Be sure to check out our new Crisis Response Blog and Flood Resources page for frequent updates on the hurricanes and WQA's response. Remember, you can now subscribe to WQA Radio on Google Play, iTunes and Stitcher. Register now for the WQA Leadership Conference, September 12-14, 2017 in San Diego. Learn more about Gold Seal | Professional Certification | Business Excellence | WQRF  Puerto Rico faces water quality challenges due to underfunded environmental agencies on the island that now face significant new challenges as a result of Hurricane Irma.
Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon—Puerto Rico’s non-voting representative in the U.S. Congress—told Bloomberg BNA that some rural areas on the island could lose power for months as a result of Irma, a storm with winds clocking above 180 miles per hour. “We’ve never been hit by a hurricane with these kinds of winds before, ever,” Gonzalez-Colon said. Most pumping stations in Puerto Rico run on electric power, making a power outage a major problem for the island's water infrastructure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it is ready to send staffers into Puerto Rico to inspect drinking water and wastewater facilities for damage. Ruth Santiago, an attorney and environmental activist in Puerto Rico, said she expects Puerto Rico’s local government, along with federal disaster officials, to work toward getting its water systems back up and running as quickly as possible. However, she said she hopes they also go beyond simply reconnecting the water to address the deluge of polluted storm water runoff that will be flowing into the island’s aquifers. Santiago said addressing these water quality problems is likely not something that Puerto Rico’s local government can accomplish on its own, given its crippling, long-term debt problems. Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority has been unable to borrow money from the private bond market for years and was recently cut off from a federal water infrastructure loan program. Source: Bloomberg Contact: Wes Bleed
E-mail: wbleed@wqa.org Telephone: (630) 505-1675 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 7, 2017 LISLE, Ill. – The Water Quality Association (WQA) recommends homeowners looking to stock up on water and other supplies ahead of Hurricane Irma consider filling reusable containers with filtered tap water if bottled water is unavailable at area stores. That's one of the several recommendations from WQA to help residents prepare for the storm. “If homeowners cannot find bottled water at the store, but have reusable water containers on hand, we suggest filling those with filtered tap water ahead of the storm,” said WQA Professional Certification and Training Director Tanya Lubner, PhD.  Important reminder following severe flooding: Many home water treatment equipment products (including reverse osmosis systems) do not provide total protection against all types of disease-causing microorganisms that may be present in contaminated drinking water.
In many cases, products will be labeled with a statement such as: “Do not use with water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality without adequate disinfection before or after the system." Recommendations made in all cases should follow the manufacturer's instructions, if available. Each manufacturer's equipment is different, and appropriate cleaning and sanitizing procedures may also differ accordingly. Following evidence of serious potential disease-causing contamination or in flood or other disaster stricken areas and after the discontinuance of a Boil Water Alert (BWA) has been issued and the water supply has been declared safe to use and drink, several sanitization steps should be taken to ensure that water treatment equipment is ready to use again. Similarly, residents who get water from a well must be concerned about contamination of their water supply and should follow basic procedures to clean and sanitize their well and water treatment equipment before use, whenever a water test indicates that well contamination has occurred. Check out our Flood Resources Page for more information.  The threat from Hurricane Harvey is far from over as dangerous flooding continues in Texas and parts of Louisiana. Getting help in some areas will be challenging for some time due to devastating floodwaters and closed roads. This is a heartbreaking and challenging situation for those in the storm’s path and the American Red Cross is working around the clock to provide safe shelter and comfort for the hundreds of thousands of people impacted by this disaster.
You can help people affected by Hurricane Harvey by joining us as a fundraiser or making a donation today. When communities stand up to help others, we can bring hope to families even in their darkest moments Your support helps the Red Cross prepare for, respond to and recover from this disaster. WQA member, Culligan, is participating in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Partnering with Convoy of Hope, Culligan is committed to helping individuals, families and communities in need of clean, safe drinking water. For more information, visit Culligan Cares. Please send us your relief effort stories, photos and videos.   Disasters, such as floods can gravely compromise public water systems. The conventional and highly appropriate response of municipalities, health departments, and other regulatory agencies in times of water emergencies is to notify all consumers to boil all water used for drinking or culinary purposes until bacteriological samples demonstrate that the water is safe, and/or until appropriate corrective actions have been completed.
Read More on boil water alerts and what to do...
Listen as WQA's Technical Affairs Director Eric Yeggy talks about the 5 important things to keep in mind if you're affected by severe flooding. Additional WQA flood resources can be found here.
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