With the U.S. federal government shutdown that, at the time of this writing, heads toward its fifth week, it’s good to know that our water utilities are operated locally and staffed by people in our communities.

So as U.S. Congress sorts things out, water professionals remain on the job, 24/7, assuring safe water flows from our taps. 

The shutdown has seen approximately 750,000 federal workers furloughed, though certain workers are considered to be essential to public safety and remain on the job. Among this group are military personnel, law enforcement officers, border patrol and air traffic controllers.

While the vast majority of water workers are not federal employees, we know from the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic that water workers are also essential to public safety. Water plays a vital role in hygiene as we wash our hands and stave off common illnesses. Whether needed for cooking, cleaning or drinking, tap water flows on demand to our households and businesses. Without it, we cannot even flush our toilets, a daily action that prevents waterborne disease in our communities.

Let’s hope that the shutdown stand-off ends soon, so everyone can get back to work and provide for their families. But in the meantime, it’s comforting to know that our water systems – and the people behind them – are on the job.