As the province ordered the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces to fight spread of COVID-19, Ontario's water and wastewater utilities should take the following precautions to ensure business continuity.
1. Confirm up-to-date contact information and continued access to ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES AND SERVICES. Refer to the list you've prepared under your Operational Plan's DWQMS Element 13 documents, and ensure you have up-to-date information (e.g. laboratories / lab supplies, chemicals, parts).
2. In consideration of your BUSINESS CONTINUITY and the potential for high absenteeism from operational staff during a pandemic emergency, consider what normal operating activities can be suspended and which staff can be reallocated to ensuring business continuity and water / wastewater operations (from other utility functional areas, other municipal departments and from existing contractors). Please review Ministry Guidelines related to water / wastewater Operators available at OWWCO's webpage: https://owwco.ca/forms-and-guidelines/
UPDATE: On March 24, 2020, the Chief Drinking Water Inspector announced the emergency order issued for drinking water systems and sewage works (for Operator certification and licensing relief) through Ontario Regulation 75/20.
The regulation outlines the conditions under which:
- non-certified / non-licensed staff can be used and redeployed (with record-keeping requirements)
- OIC / ORO responsibilities and duties can be assigned
This order was issued under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act for the duration of the provincially-declared emergency.
3. Confirm availability of and any special contact information for the following EMERGENCY RESPONSE supplies and services:
- your own corporate services (support in: IT, media / public communication, fleet, payroll, procurement)
- fuel providers
- power, electrical and back-up generation
- SCADA, instrumentation & security-related
- telecommunications & network providers
- utility locates-related
- distribution system support: dump trucks, excavators, contractors
- maintenance-related (electrical / mechanical / millwright / plumbing)
- health & safety / PPE-related
- call centre support
- spills response contractors
When completed, share a copy of your updated business continuity plan with your COMMUNITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR.
And... if you're not yet a member of the Ontario Water / Wastewater Agency Response Network (OnWARN), it's FREE to join and not too late! Visit www.onwarn.org or contact me (as OnWARN's Secretary :) ) for more information.