A Message to the WEF Community about Coronavirus

We are closely monitoring the situation with COVID-19, including tracking the latest information from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and state and local health authorities.

During this unique, challenging, and stressful time, we want you to know that WEF is here to provide resources for our members and make decisions that are in our collective best interest.

We published the leading scientific and technical information about COVID-19 on our website, hosted a webinar with leading experts, and released a podcast episode with two WEF volunteers. The good news is that currently there is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus survives the disinfection process for drinking water and wastewater. Additionally, no COVID-19–specific protections are recommended for employees involved in wastewater management operations, including those at wastewater treatment facilities. Water resource recovery facility operations should ensure workers follow routine practices to prevent exposure to wastewater. We encourage you to visit the webpage for the latest information.

We also made the decision to cancel several of our events – the Odors and Air Pollutants Conference, the National Stormwater Symposium, and the Residuals and Biosolids Conference. Recent developments with COVID-19 and the importance of minimizing the spread of the illness, particularly among our attendees, exhibitors, vendors, and staff, were key factors in our decision to cancel the events. Also, the expanding reach of COVID-19 has made it impossible for WEF to deliver high-quality programs and networking opportunities as promised. We are exploring alternative avenues to provide the educational content and expertise from these events using distance technology and should have additional information soon. The status of all WEF events is maintained on a dedicated webpage.

Another priority for WEF is assisting our Member Associations (MAs) with decisions they face around operations, events, finances, and communications. We are reaching out directly to our MAs to share information and answer questions as best as possible. We assure you that WEF has the strategic and financial plans and capability in place to continue our operations and serve our members during this situation.

As the situation with COVID-19 continues to evolve, we encourage you to stay informed and follow recommendations from the WHO, CDC, and state and local health officials. One thing we know with certainty is that water professionals are on the frontlines of public health protection every single day and are exactly the experts our communities and country rely on during a time like this.

We will continue to conduct our business and be here for all of you.