Safety and Ebola hemorrhagic fever resources
Wastewater treatment operation
The DNR has received questions about health risks to wastewater treatment plant/sanitary sewer workers from sewage containing the Ebola virus. There is very little research on the fate and transport of the Ebola virus in wastewater collection systems and the associated human health risks from Ebola virus-contaminated human excreta and sewage.
There are no known cases of Ebola virus disease in Wisconsin at this time. The Department of Health Services (DHS) is the lead agency for Ebola response in Wisconsin. DHS developed guidance on pretreatment of Ebola virus-infected hospital patient wastewater prior to discharge into sanitary sewer systems. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also developed interim safety guidance for wastewater worker safety.
Guidance
Disinfectants For Cleaning Surfaces
- EPA: Disinfectants for use against Ebola
- OSHA Fact Sheet: Cleaning and Decontamination of Ebola on Surfaces: Guidance for Workers and Employers in Non-Healthcare/Non-Laboratory Settings
Webinars
Recording and Presentation from Water Environment Federation (WEF) and Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) Webinar on Wastewater Worker Safety and Ebola - Nov. 6, 2014
The Water Environment Federation and the Water Environment Research Foundation hosted an event on Nov. 4, 2014, to address concerns about the Ebola virus and wastewater worker safety. The "Wastewater Worker Safety - Addressing Concerns on Ebola in Wastewater" webinar addressed what is known about the survival of the Ebola virus in wastewater and what is needed in terms of research, sanitation and personal protective practices for wastewater personnel and helpful guidance documents.