Last week we did a blog about COVID-19 and water security where we asked: should we be worried about this virus in our water? The answer is both yes, and no. This week we’re looking at where you get your water and what treatments/filtration methods are effective in eliminating COVID-19 from water or at least making it safe for us to drink.

Municipal Water Sources:

It is highly unlikely that you will contract any virus from municipal drinking water. While many consumers don't like having chlorine in their water, when it comes to viruses, this compound is our best friend.

Well Water Sources:

For those who have private wells the risk of virus contamination may be a bit higher, but not much. Well-water is generally cool, coming in at 50º F - 60° F, and it generally is void of any organisms or debris that a virus could feed upon. Viruses are not usually found here either.

Purification by Chlorine:

Viruses have a low to moderate tolerance to chlorine. The most resistant ones can tolerate up to 0.5 ppm (parts per million) of this disinfectant. The EPA allows municipal water suppliers to add up to 4 ppm to the water. Happily, this level of chlorine easily kills viruses. So, if your drinking water is provided by a regulated water provider, it is highly unlikely that you will ever find a virus in your glass.

Filtration by Granular Activated Carbon:

The caveat of course is that if non-chlorinated water is allowed to stand open to the atmosphere then it can become contaminated from the surrounding atmosphere, and in theory a virus could grow and proliferate. In general, organisms thrive in non-chlorinated water, so if you are using a home filter with Granular Activated Carbon inside, you are creating non-chlorinated drinking water. If that is the case, it is not good to let the filtered water stand in a glass or pitcher for more than a couple hours without refrigerating it.

Filtration by Ion-Exchange:

If you may have a mixed-bed filter at home, the ion-exchange element of your filtration media will not help disinfect against bacteria, pathogens, or viruses. Ion Exchange resin remove heavy metals from your water using its magnetic chemical properties.

UV Filtration:

Another form of popular water sanitization involves exposing water to ultraviolet light. Under the proper intensity and exposure time UV can eliminate bacterial contamination. UV exposure alone however may not eliminate all viral concerns.

Just remember, when water is in an open container it is immediately susceptible to contamination. The risk with non-chlorinated water is much higher. Still, even with these caveats, it is highly unlikely that you will consume a virus in your water.