Coronavirus and Drinking Water

I’m sure you’ve heard about COVID-19 and what this new virus is doing to the humankind, we know that COVID can be prevented by washing our hands with water and sanitizer, but the real question is:

Can we get COVID-19 / Coronavirus thought drinking water or wastewater?

The EPA and CDC have answered this question, to tranquilize you I’ll already say that it’s not probably you’ll get COVID-19 through drinking water. But it is a new virus and more researches must be done around this subject. Let’s have a review about the virus and its forms of contagion.  

What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. The new coronavirus agent was discovered on 12/31/19 after cases registered in China. The incubation period is the time it takes for the first symptoms to appear since coronavirus infection, which can be 2 to 14 days. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. 

This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.

How Can I Know if II have COVID-19?

The WHO (World Health Organization) says that The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are

• fever, 
• tiredness,
• and dry cough. 

Some patients may have:

• aches and pains,
• nasal congestion, 
• runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. 

These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. 

“Around 1 out of every 6 people who get COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. 

Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. 

People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

Water Transmission and COVID-19

What United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says:

“The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies. Based on current evidence, the risk to water supplies is low. Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual.

EPA also encourages the public to help keep household plumbing and our nation’s water infrastructure operating properly by only flushing toilet paper. Disinfecting wipes and other items should be disposed of in the trash, not the toilet.

The Centers for disease control and Prevention CDC Opinion is:

“The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water. 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.

Concluding we do not need to worry about being sick trough drinking water, although we always need to be cautious and the first measure is to install a Water Filter.