MINERAL RIDGE, Ohio - The entity that supplies water to more than 220,000 people in 17 Valley communities says that water is safe in the midst of the coronavirus.

The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District issued a statement on Thursday stating that the CDC and Water Environment Federation have indicated that there is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus survives the disinfection process for drinking water and wastewater.

The MVSD says it is taking “all necessary precautions” at the treatment plant to prevent the spread of the illness among employees.

The statement concludes by assuring customers that it is following EPA requirements and any emergency or contingency plan for pandemic events.

According to the Water Environment Federation, the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water, and the risk of transmission through feces is expected to be low based on data from previous outbreaks of related coronaviruses.

The Water Environment Federation is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with a mission to protect public health and the environment.