COVID-19 – Important Information for our customers
We are taking precautions so we can continue to serve
We are closely monitoring guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local public health agencies on the appropriate preparations and response to potential impacts from the new coronavirus (COVID-19).
Accordingly, we are taking precautions related to COVID-19 to protect the health and safety of employees, customers, and the community while continuing to provide safe wastewater collection and treatment for our service area. Here is what you need to know:
* Promoting health and safety for everyone.
Effective through August 2, 2021, unless further noticed, we will be closing the administrative offices located at 260 East Street, New Haven. The purpose of closing the office is to limit potential person to person spread of the virus. Our 24/7 sanitary sewer emergency hotline at 203-466-5260 will remain available.
* Paying your bill.
Walk-in payments and customer services are suspended until further notice. You can pay your wastewater bill via one of the remote methods established by the GNHWPCA which include online, over the phone, or by mail.
* Plan/Development reviews.
Plan reviews can be submitted on-line only, email: Engineering@GNHWPCA.com. Walk-ins, drop-offs, and mailed submissions will not be accepted at this time.
* Reminders.
ONLY FLUSH TOILET PAPER, PEE AND POO – Think twice after the use disinfecting wipes and DO NOT FLUSH them, or any other paper products besides toilet paper, down the toilet. “Flushable” wipes are NOT flushable. They are the #1 cause of sewer backups in your system. Wipes labeled as “flushable” and other products such as paper towels, Kleenex, cotton swabs, etc., do not break down and cause clogs in sewer systems creating costly repairs.
Examples of what should NOT be flushed down toilets or poured down drains are as follows:
- Cloth rags or towels
- Baby wipes, toilet wipes, towelettes, disinfecting wipes, or cloth wipes of any kind (even if the container indicates that they are “flushable”)
- Paper (other than toilet paper/tissue)
- Medications prescription, or over the counter
- Feminine hygiene products of any kind
- Beauty products, Q-tips, dental floss
- Plastic of any kind
- Grease of any kind-especially cooking grease
- Garden supplies (such as pesticides, fertilizers)
- Paint, Varnish, paint remover
- Motor oil, gasoline, or any explosive material
All the above items mentioned should be disposed of in the trash or other proper disposal methods. Remember…only water, human waste and tissue paper should be flushed down toilets. Clogged sewers and pumps lead to sewer backups into homes and are expensive to clean and repair. The cost of this cleanup is on the resident and the rate payers.
* Latest known facts about the virus related to wastewater treatment.
According to the Water Environment Federation, “Currently, there is no evidence on the survival of COVID-19 virus in drinking water or wastewater.” While studies of other virus strains indicate they can be found in untreated wastewater, standard municipal wastewater system disinfection practices, including chlorination, are effective in controlling the virus provided utilities monitor and maintain required disinfection levels during treatment. GNHWPCA continuously monitors disinfection levels in treated wastewater to ensure compliance with public and environmental health standards.
As new developments emerge regarding the coronavirus, we will update our website and communicate with you about how we can continue to operate safely and effectively.
Take care,
GNHWPCA Executive Team