Colorado Wastewater Surveillance Program

Environmental researchers around the world have demonstrated a correlation between SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations found in wastewater and COVID-19 case reports. Since  August 2020, CDPHE’s Communicable Disease branch and Water Quality Control Division have been working with Colorado wastewater utilities and local universities to monitor wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 levels in Colorado communities. The result of this work culminated in the Colorado Wastewater Surveillance Collaborative. This wastewater data is used by the State and local public health agencies (LPHAs), in conjunction with case report data, to more accurately estimate trends of disease within a community. This data also gives local public health partners an early warning system for increasing disease levels in their communities as it can identify cases prior to case report data being available. In addition, the CDPHE lab performs whole genome sequencing on all positive wastewater samples for identification of mutations indicative of variants of concern.

Participating wastewater utilities collect wastewater samples twice per week from 24-hour composite samples collected just before the wastewater enters the water treatment plant. The samples are made up of a mixture from all the homes and businesses served by that wastewater utility, making this form of COVID-19 monitoring more efficient than clinical testing. CDPHE’s wastewater program also has potential to expand to neighborhood or even building-level monitoring. We are currently partnering with the University of Denver to perform wastewater sampling at two major correctional facilities in Denver.

Wastewater data can capture cases in communities where testing is unavailable, underutilized, or from asymptomatic individuals who may not seek testing. Wastewater data has been used by local public health agencies (LPHAs) to target testing and vaccination campaigns. Tri-County Health Department utilized wastewater data in a series of social media posts in nine targeted zip codes. The wastewater data was successful in generating a higher than usual community engagement in these posts. The Wastewater Surveillance Team at CDPHE is creating reports to send to LPHAs when elevated concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 are identified.

Data from the wastewater samples are available to the public via an interactive online dashboard. Currently, CDPHE is partnering with 21 wastewater utilities with plans to expand to more in the future. Wastewater disease monitoring is a vital part of understanding trends in COVID-19. In the future, we hope to expand and monitor for other communicable diseases. To learn more about the CDPHE Wastewater Monitoring Project please visit our frequently asked question page.

➽ Kevin Andresen, MPH Wastewater Surveillance Coordinator  Communicable Disease Branch

CoWARN update early 2021

What is CoWARN?

Colorado’s Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (CoWARN) is a statewide network of “utilities helping utilities” to prepare for and respond to a natural or human-caused emergency. Utilities know that their equipment can be specialized and their talented staff often possess unique skill sets. In times of need, gaining assistance from utilities is often the best option. CoWARN is led by utilities for utilities and the mission of the CoWARN network is to support and promote statewide emergency preparedness, disaster response and mutual aid assistance for public and private water and wastewater utilities. CoWARN facilitates a formalized system for water and wastewater utilities to help each other with mutual aid during emergency situations. CoWARN is a partnership between utilities, various state and local agencies, and water and wastewater organizations. CoWARN is not owned or led by the state of Colorado, but CDPHE does support the network by helping with administration duties.

CoWARN provides water and wastewater utilities with:

• A Mutual Aid Agreement and process for sharing emergency resources among water and wastewater agencies statewide.

• A mutual assistance program consistent with other statewide mutual aid and assistance programs and the National Incident Management System.

• The resources to respond and recover more quickly from a natural or human caused emergency or disaster.

• A forum for developing and maintaining emergency contacts and relationships.

How to participate in CoWARN?

Joining CoWARN is as simple as filling out a Mutual Aid Agreement and submitting it to the CoWARN website administrator, Kyra Gregory (kyra.greogry@sate.co.us). The CoWARN Mutual Aid Agreement is available to all public and private water and wastewater utilities in Colorado. When you become a member of CoWARN, participation in any emergency response is voluntary, and membership in CoWARN does not obligate members to offer or accept aid. All actions, recommendations, etc. are made in accordance with the articles of the CoWARN Mutual Aid Agreement. 

CoWARN’s 2020 response 

The global pandemic that began in 2020 presented many significant challenges to water and wastewater services in our state from COVID-19 itself, in response to heightened cybersecurity concerns, and devastating forest fires. The CoWARN steering committee took action to provide valuable resources to their members. 

In spring 2020 CoWARN took swift action to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by distributing face coverings and establishing a list of individual operators willing to assist in staffing shortages caused by illness. In partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) CoWARN leadership and members worked to distribute over 60,000 cloth face masks. The mask distribution was in response to a general request for additional personal protective equipment from multiple water and wastewater utilities, as well as water industry organizations in the state of Colorado. CoWARN members volunteered and created four distribution sites across the state to ensure all water and wastewater utilities, regardless of type, size or affiliation, had an opportunity to obtain free PPE for workers. Special thanks to Parker Water and Sanitation District, Denver Water, Colorado Rural Water Association, and the city of Grand Junction for volunteering their time and resources to help protect water and wastewater employees in Colorado.

Due to the potential labor shortages that may accompany the COVID-19 pandemic, the CoWARN steering committee decided to invite individual water system personnel (contract operators, retired water system personnel, etc) to join CoWARN under an associate member account. The same tactic was used during the 2013 flood state emergency and it worked well. These individuals would be able to respond to assistance requests. Thank you to the over 180 operators who offered their assistance!  

In addition to their COVID-19 response, CoWARN provided resources and guidance to systems to prepare for and potentially respond to security threats to their systems including cybersecurity as well as physical security threats. The CoWARN steering committee also provided outreach and resources to systems that experienced wildfires this summer and fall. 

Looking ahead

CoWARN and its steering committee, made up of volunteers from the network’s members, now look to the future of emergency response in Colorado. The coming years will no doubt present new challenges to water and wastewater treatment. As you and your system look ahead to protect public health in the coming years CoWARN invites you to join their network of utilities helping utilities. Water and wastewater systems provide our communities with a life-sustaining resource that is of vital importance to maintaining public health, sanitation and safety. By restoring water and wastewater service in the most efficient manner possible, CoWARN provides renewed hope for fast recovery from disasters. Who is more likely to have that specialized pump or valve your system needs to get back on line in a hurry, and the staff with expertise to help get the job done right? That’s right, another water or wastewater system. 

In addition, CoWARN is also inviting it’s members to participate in its steering committee. This is a group of volunteers who meet every-other month to discuss current issues arising in our state and communities. Steering committee members typically engage with CoWARN for less than 5 hours a month. This is a great way to impact the direction of emergency management response in your state with minimal additional work added to operator’s busy schedules. For more information on volunteering for the CoWARN steering committee contact kyra.gregory@state.co.us. 

➽ Kyra Gregory, Drinking Water Training Specialist

Operator Certification Exams: Is Remote Proctoring Right for You?

Beginning January 12, 2021, Colorado’s operator certification exam administrator, PSI, began offering the option of remotely proctored examinations. This option allows approved exam candidates to take their certification tests from their home computers. However, before signing up for a remotely proctored exam, candidates need to make sure they have the right equipment, the right environment, and are able to comply with all security and professional  requirements. 

System Requirements for Remotely Proctored Exams

Your computer set-up must include the following:

• Web camera
• Speakers 
• Microphone
• Stable broadband internet connection

PSI provides a compatibility check on its scheduling website. This online tool will check the audio/video features of your computer (the one you plan to use for the exam) as well as verify that your internet browser, platform and connection speed are sufficient. You should use the online compatibility tool only when you are in the location where you will be testing. Please note, you will be required to verify your system’s functionality again immediately before beginning your exam. If you have any questions about your compatibility check, you may contact PSI’s remote proctoring technical support team at 844-267-1017.

Environment Requirements

The room where you are testing must be a secure testing environment:

• You will be asked to scan the room from which you are testing prior to launching your exam. You will need to use your web camera. Electronic devices and recording devices, including cell phones, pagers, cameras (other than your web camera), etc. are not permitted in the testing environment.
• If there are notes, drinks, a box of tissues or any such items on your desk, you will be asked to remove them prior to beginning the exam.

Security Requirements

• You must present a valid, unexpired identification in order to take your test. Military IDs are not accepted.
• You may connect with PSI Remote Proctors for testing up to 15 minutes prior to your scheduled start time provided your exam is ready to launch. Your launch button will be enabled when your exam is fully prepared for delivery.
• No conversing or any other form of communication is permitted once your exam has been released. You will want to make sure no one enters the room while your test is in progress.
• If you need assistance during your exam, you should initiate a chat with the online test administrator using the exam chat tool.
• You may not exit the camera view or use your cell phone or other electronic devices during the examination.
• Your hands must be visible to the camera at all times. Talking or mouthing words while testing is prohibited.
• You are prohibited from reproducing, communicating or transmitting any test content in any form for any purpose. Copying or communicating content is a violation of PSI security policy. Either one may result in the disqualification of examination results, may lead to legal action and will be reported to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
• The only electronic or recording device allowed in the testing environment is your testing machine.

Professional Requirements

• PSI requires all employees and exam takers to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner at all times. Exhibiting abusive behavior towards a proctor via chat will be reported to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and may result in criminal prosecution.

Remotely proctored exams add one more layer of flexibility for the Colorado Certified Water Professionals Program. In some cases, where individual operators do not have the equipment and/or environment necessary to take advantage of remotely proctored exams, employers may be able to provide both the equipment and the secure testing space. Otherwise, if you are not fully equipped and prepared for a remotely proctored exam, save yourself a lot of frustration by scheduling your exam at a PSI test center.

➽ Nancy Horan, Facility and Operator Outreach and Certification Board Liaison

TUs in the time of COVID-19

HELP! 

With the pandemic it seems like there is no end in sight. Usually I attend in person courses to get my training units. I get to network with other operators, I get a free lunch, and I really enjoy the class breakout sessions.

All that is not happening these days - because of COVID-19. As 2021 approaches, it is going on one year since we had traditional learning available to operators. Some may have expiration dates for their operator certificate quickly approaching. That means they need to get their Training Units (TUs) in another way. 

Don’t panic! There are online options for getting TUs. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Local Assistance Unit provides virtual classroom style training and also one-on-one coaching that provide valuable TUs for certificate renewals. The upcoming classes and ability to request one-on-one training is online at the division Training Opportunities website. Do you have a sanitary survey coming up? Do you need to correct problems from a previous sanitary survey and need help? Confused by the Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control Rule paperwork? There is training and customized coaching to help you prepare for the sanitary survey, gain compliance with sanitary survey rule requirements and get those TUs! 

Not sure if the online training you are interested in is eligible for TUs? Use the Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) Portal Course Catalog to search for training opportunities and their awarded credit values online at the CCWP portal.  To search the catalog without logging into the portal, please navigate to the general CCWP Catalog and using this how-to guide for the CCWP catalog.

➽Tyson Ingels CWP, PE and Heather Young, CWP, PE. 

Dear Aqua Man - Customers Refusing to Comply with the Cross Connection Rule

Dear Aqua Man, 

How do I respond to a customer that refuses to install or test their backflow device due to COVID-19?

Sincerely,
Sy Phoning

Dear Sy,

Recently the WQCD has been contacted by citizens requesting extensions from CDPHE to extend backflow device installation deadlines or device testing deadlines issued by their drinking water supplier. Frequently, they express COVID-19 exposure concerns. The Division has taken the approach to help educate citizens that the backflow prevention and cross connection control (BPCCC) requirements are an important part of the Drinking Water Regulations. Many people are unaware that Colorado has about one known waterborne disease outbreak that makes people sick every year due to unprotected cross-connections. Drinking water suppliers must protect the water in their piping by making sure that backflow prevention assemblies are installed and tested annually. Installing these assemblies and keeping them in proper working order are the only barrier to prevent unintentional contamination of the drinking water supply from backflow events. Therefore, this kind of work, and other plumbing work responding to pipe breaks, etc. are considered essential functions that need to be carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Drinking water suppliers across the state and their customers are proceeding with backflow prevention work including installation and testing during the pandemic with COVID-19 safety precautions. Drinking water suppliers and their customers are working together with plumbing contractors and others to safely and effectively protect their water systems against backflow while avoiding unnecessary exposure to COVID-19 by taking appropriate safety precautions. 

Resources:

• Guidance for safe construction projects during COVID-19 
• CDC guidelines for hiring contractors for in-home projects during COVID-19 
• The Division is developing a COVID-19 backflow prevention brochure for customers that will be published on the WQCD website. Please stay tuned!

CDPHE oversees implementation of the rules by water systems. CDPHE does not override decisions made by drinking water suppliers unless they are failing to protect the drinking water. There is no provision in the regulations allowing CDPHE to do this. In this case, drinking water suppliers are acting in the interest of public health to protect drinking water via their rule implementation and CDPHE will not override their determinations. Therefore, CDPHE will not grant extensions to citizens for deadlines their drinking water supplier has implemented to install or test backflow prevention assemblies. The customer needs to continue to work with the drinking water supplier to protect their piping from uncontrolled cross connections. If the drinking water supplier needs an alternative schedule for installation or replacement of a device, then they can apply to the Division for an extension under Regulation 11.

For any questions or concerns about backflow prevention please email our backflow team at cdphe_wqcd_fss_questions@state.co.us. 

COVID-19 Resources

Aqua Talk and COVID-19 updates

Thank you for your critical efforts to protect public health and the environment through your water utility work during this challenging time. Now, more than ever, water is a precious resource and your work is essential for everyone to survive.

Online Resources

The Department of Public Health and Environment has created a webpage to provide Colorado-specific resources for water professionals responding to different situations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These webpage resources include:

• Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce memorandum Department of Homeland Security.
• Colorado Springs backflow prevention program COVID-19 response actions shared guidance document.  
• Updated Frequently Asked Questions  questions about utility operations and COVID-19. 
• Communication materials for systems and the public. 
• Colorado’s Water & Wastewater Agency Response Network (CoWARN) resources for utilities to share during crisis situations. 

Aqua Talk schedule change

In response to COVID-19 the state is working diligently to adapt workforce assignments to maintain business continuity for the communities that rely on our services in these times. We are also regularly communicating with utilities about COVID-19 and related impacts. We are pausing our weekly Aqua Talk blog posts.

Moving forward, Aqua Talk posts will temporarily be limited to COVID-19 updates and time-sensitive deadlines or reminders regarding regulatory requirements. We will reach out when regular Aqua Talk articles resume.

Division Contact 

You can reach the Water Quality Control Division at cdphe.commentswqcd@state.co.us



➽ Heather Wilcox, communications and special projects

Ask Aqua Man

COVID-19 and Water Operation Concerns

Dear Worried, 

Great questions! We are also concerned about the impacts of COVID-19. In fact, we have prepared an Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document about exactly your concerns. Please read through it. 

FAQ Highlights

During any type of emergency, the most powerful tool for public utilities is other utilities lending a hand. This was true in the large-scale flooding of 2013 as well as major forest fires and blizzards. Having a network of other utilities that you can rely on is highly valuable. 

Our primary recommendation to utilities is to make both your needs and your resources known on the CoWARN network. CoWARN is an organization that facilitates mutual aid and resource sharing between water and wastewater utilities, and it is free to join. READ MORE ABOUT IT IN THE FAQ.

If you are short-staffed, you would still need to sample, but please contact CDPHE during any specific emergency where sampling will be disrupted. We also recommend sampling early in the month (or monitoring period). That way, if staff become ill later in the month, at least there will be one less thing to worry about for that month. We are more than happy to help you prioritize and also to warn potentially impacted people. Also, it is important to announce your labor shortages during an emergency through the CoWARN network. 

Please check out the FAQ. If you have concerns that are not addressed in the FAQ, please let us know! It’s very likely that someone else has the same question, so we want to add it to the FAQ. You can also check out the news updates on our department COVID-19 webpage for the latest information on Colorado's COVID-19 efforts. 

Best of luck, 
-Aqua Man

Contacts

Drinking water  
Tyson Ingels | tyson.ingels@state.co.us 
Lead Drinking Water Engineer

Wastewater 
David Kurz | david.kurz@state.co.us
Lead Wastewater Engineer