COVID-19 Resources

During this time of National Emergency, there have been abundant changes to our daily lives and halts on many activities. We hope this page will provide useful information about coronavirus safety and news updates from our partner organizations within the watershed.

Although we are being asked to stay home, many trails are still open! Just make sure to follow the Coronavirus guidelines from the CDC, WHO, and Departments of Health (listed below) and practice social distancing if you go for a nature walk. Check in with individual organizations regarding their policies and schedules.

COVID-19 and Water Resources:

Experts around the world agree that source water is not causing the spread of coronavirus and that our drinking water is still safe to drink from our normal sources. Safe drinking water standards and public supplier precautions and disinfections have long been in place to protect us. Purchasing water bottles is still not encouraged.

• CDC's Water and COVID-19 FAQs
• EPA's Coronavirus and Drinking Water and Wastewater
• Penn State Extension's "Drinking water considered safe from the novel coronavirus"

Coronavirus Safety & Updates in Pennsylvania:

• Pennsylvania Department of Health
• About Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• American Public Health Association
• World Health Organization

Schuylkill Action Network Updates:

• Our strategic planning sessions originally scheduled for April 8 and 9 have been postponed. A virtual session was held on June 4 from 10am-12pm. Click here for more information.
• The Schuylkill Scrub is postponed until the fall (September 1), but the CleanSweep app is still available for download (now for Apple AND Android!) to record individual cleanup activity.
• The Schuylkill River Sojourn has been postponed, and the SAN will not be offering the Sojourn Steward position in 2020. You can still show us your solo boating, canoeing, or kayaking trips on social media by using the hashtag #BoattheSchuylkill! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE NEW VIRTUAL SCHUYLKILL SOJOURN (in-person paddling days optional)

Updates from our agency partners:

• EPA: COVID-19 Implications for EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Program
• PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: All state park and forest facilities are open as of June 5, 2020.
• PA Department of Environmental Protection COVID-19 Update (Closings, Delays, and Contact Information)
• PA Fish and Boat: FAQ's about PA Fishing and Boating during COVID-19
• Philadelphia Water Department: Offices are closed, Philadelphia tap is safe to drink (as always), and all water shut-offs are suspended through July 10th. Click here for more information.
• Governer Wolf Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for State, County, Municipal governments, Non-profits, and Individuals

Updates from some of our non-profit partners:

Please check in with individual organizations for updates on closures and cancellations.

• PA Land Trust Association: COVID-19 Resources for Open Space, Parks, Preserves, and Trails.
• Partnership for the Delaware Estuary: Office is closed, staff are working remotely through October 1st. All events have been moved online through the end of the year.
• Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
• Schuylkill River Greenways: Office is closed and staff are working remotely. Check their events page for information about individual programs. 

Resources for Online Education:

• COVID-19 Safety Training for Outdoor Volunteering
• Please click here to open a Google Doc of new virtual educational experiences compiled by the Pennsylvania Environmental Digest Blog. Updated daily!
• Click here to access Racial Equity & Social Justice tools pertaining to COVID-19, as the impacts of the pandemic will be felt most strongly in already underprivileged communities.
• Alliance for Watershed Education has compiled a list of virtual environmental programming throughout the Delaware River Watershed for people of all ages! 
• Hawk Mountain Sanctuary has several educational resources, fun activities for kids, and new virtual educational and stewardship programs.
• Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has released an educational book series for grades K-6: Open Your Eyes to Litter
• Penn State Extension has extensive information about COVID-19 and online opportunities and resources during this time.
• Natural Lands offers a myriad of online content to explore nature remotely through their Outdoors Online program. 
• The Nature Conservancy has available its Nature Lab Youth Curriculum.
• Rodale Institute has moved most of their workshops and webinars online.
• Schuylkill Action Network: Visit our events page to find several webinar training opportunities from our partners!
• Stroud Water Research Center has a special page with virtual learning resources for students and families

Resources for Water & Wastewater Utilities:

• EPA's Water Utility Resources fot the COVID-19 Pandemic
• EFCN's Coronavirus Resources for Small Water Systems
• CORONAVIRUS COMPENDIUM - Key Considerations for Water and Wastewater Utilities Responding to the Coronavirus
• New Castle County says wastewater analysis shows 15x more COVID-19 cases than confirmed tests