The federal government lists your work as an essential service during a crisis. That’s nothing new to us.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is calling on critical infrastructure industries — including septic service providers’ associated equipment manufacturers — to continue providing essential services during the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Through an announcement by President Donald Trump, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency shared this guidance:

“If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as health care services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule.”

CISA distributed a list of “essential critical infrastructure workers” covered, including private wastewater-related service companies, and released a document this week, “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response.”

The Homeland Security memorandum recognizes the important role wastewater workers and, by extension, the companies that provide their specialized equipment play in promoting public health during a crisis.

This is something we at Pumper and COLE Publishing have always known. Since 1979, COLE Publishing has highlighted the unsung and sometimes dangerous work of wastewater professionals. The country could not function without the dedication of our workforce to pump tanks and maintain septic systems for nearly one-third of U.S. residents.

The CISA document spells out the importance of infrastructure workers continuing to provide their crucial services. As many states enforce shelter-in-place or other safety measures aimed at protecting the public, Homeland Security reminds infrastructure workers to coordinate with state and local officials to continue to deliver services. 

“All decisions should appropriately balance public safety while ensuring the continued delivery of critical infrastructure services and functions,” CISA announces.

Thank you for continuing to answer the call when members of the public have a wastewater emergency. You are on the front lines of the public health system, and we urge you to take all necessary precautions to work safely and efficiently during the pandemic response. Below is the complete memorandum and infrastructure guidance document released this week by the federal government:

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