Kurt C. Peterson, Publisher
Unfortunately, we’ve been here before, but without the fear of dying. As COVID-19 has ravaged large cities and nursing homes, we have been reminded that life is too precious to take for granted. Adding financial burdens caused by limiting or closing businesses has been a vicious assault on an economy that has only recently seen pay and job growth. The pandemic has brought us back to recession levels; we can only hope that it doesn’t take as long as the Great Recession to make a recovery, for main street as well as Wall Street.
Anything related to water treatment is essential because clean, safe water is a public health issue. While you may have had to adapt the way you do business to current trends and the pandemic, there’s no reason to give up on being the first line of defense for consumers who are concerned about their most precious resource. We serve the public in so many ways…it’s not just about sales or the bottom line. The water quality and improvement industries may well be what stands between life and disaster.
There are a great many types of water treatment and this month we take a closer look at UV technologies. James Peterson of Crystal IS presents a question-and-answer article to clarify certain benefits and concerns surrounding the use of UV treatment. That same technology is being adapted for many other industries as part of disinfection treatment trains, such as in hospitals and other medical facilities. It’s becoming a go-to technology for what we need most to survive: air and water.
In many states, water treatment specialists must engage the services of certified plumbers to install equipment. Whether that is a requirement in your state or not, it’s important to know what the Uniform Plumbing Code and the Uniform Mechanical Code may require. Thomas Palkon, IAPMO Group, reviews the latest changes and updates to those codes. If you deal with anything plumbing-related, you should pay attention.
Getting your message across to clients and prospective customers has never been more important than right now. There’s a way to do it effectively, without causing any additional fear or panic, which seems to be ruling the day. WQA’s Communication Director, Wes Bleed, offers some tips on the best ways to communicate in a crisis situation.
Our Public Health Editor, Kelly Reynolds, PhD, MSPH, is on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle as a noted microbiologist and researcher. As such, her time is entirely devoted to the pandemic and we will not be running the On Tap column this month. We hope the pandemic curve is flattened so we can try to return to business as usual, as quickly as possible.
Most events, whether near or far, have been postponed or cancelled for the next couple of months. We’re tracking that closely to keep you updated. Many associations and organizations are moving their events to an online format to provide members with the latest and greatest information, not just the conference experience. This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of those offerings!
We hope that next month we will have more positive news and articles, just as we hope you will continue to think of your fellow man by observing safe and sane practices. The old adage, it takes a village, could certainly be the answer to staying in business, productive, successful and healthy. Until we have the chance to see you face-to-face again, keep tuning in to the magazine, the digital magazine, the newsletter and our website. We’ve got you covered.