Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Angelina & Neches River Authority (ANRA) is closely monitoring the unprecedented situation with COVID-19 as it continues to develop, and taking actions as needed.

The health, safety, and well-being of our community and of our employees is our top priority, and we want to provide you with some assurances.

ANRA is a government-designated critical infrastructure facility, and as such, all essential operational functions, including water and wastewater services, will continue uninterrupted.

ANRA is practicing all recommended precautionary measures to minimize the risk of virus-exposure and spread, and your water continues to be safe to drink.

Online bill pay is available to our customers, and we recommend that you utilize it if you are able.

If you are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 situation, please contact our office at 936-632-7795 to discuss your options for deferred payments.

We encourage you to keep up date with your local municipalities, health districts, and State and Federal authorities for news and rules/recommendations to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Here are some links to maps, data, and educational materials that you may find useful:

• Texas Department of State Health Services COVID-19 information page
• Texas Department of State Health Services COVID-19 map
• Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard
• ArcGIS COVID-19 Maps and Information Hub

ANRA will update this page as further actions are taken or recommendations are made. Continue reading for more information. (The most recent updates will be at the top).

Wednesday March 3rd Update

On March 2, 2021, Governor Abbott issued Executive Order 34-Opening Texas Response Disaster. This Executive Order rescinds all of the operating limits for businesses in the State of Texas as well as rescinding the requirements for face coverings. As a result of Governor Abbott’s actions, all of the operations restrictions specified in ANRA’s COVID-19 Reopening Stage 2 dated May 18, 2020 are rescinded effective 08:00 on Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

All of the prior restrictions are rescinded, and the activities specifically referenced below will take effect and remain in effect until further notice.

Operations Activities:

1. Public Access
   1. Central Office:
      1. Lobby entrance will be reopened to the public for bill payment and general business activities.
      2. Lab customers will continue to use the shipping receiving area.
      3. All customers will continue to be encouraged to use ANRA’s payment portal or some form of electronic payment; i.e. debit, credit.
   2. Neches Compost Facility:
      1. Customer access to the office remains prohibited.
      2. The temporary payment station will continue to be utilized.
      3. Customers will continue to use some form of electronic payment; i.e., debit, credit.

Purchasing and Travel:

1. No restrictions beyond normal budgeted purchasing and travel constraints.

Hygiene and Disinfection:

1. Staff are to continue to observe social distancing measures.
2. The ANRA-issued Guidance for Post Exposure Quarantines, dated December 22, 2020, remains in effect.

Monday May 18th Updates

As Governor Abbott continues to ease restrictions related to the spread of COVID-19 and re-open Texas, ANRA continues to re-evaluate its response to those measures. As a result of Governor Abbott’s actions, the following measures are effective as of 08:00 on May 18, 2020.

All of the prior restrictions are rescinded, and the restrictions specifically referenced below will take in effect and remain in effect until further notice.

Operations Activities

1. Public Access
   1. Central Office:
      1. Access to the lobby area remains closed to the general public.
      2. All signage is to remain in place for customer notification.
      3. All water customers, OSSF customers and Lab customers will continue to be directed (via signage and markers) to the shipping receiving area for ALL business transactions.
      4. All walk-in customers will continue to be encouraged to use some form of electronic payment; i.e., debit, credit or ANRA’s online payment portal.
   2. Neches Compost Facility:
      1. Compost sales will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
      2. The temporary payment station will continue to be utilized.
      3. Customer access to the Office is prohibited.
      4. Customers will continue to use some form of electronic payment; i.e., debit, credit.

Purchasing and Travel:

1. All non-essential purchases for every department continue to be suspended
2. All training events, ANRA sponsored volunteer events, and work-related travel outside of the Neches River basin is suspended.
3. Exceptions include purchasing activities associated with capital improvement projects, construction activities and other contractually required purchases.
4. Any purchases or travel that contradicts these conditions requires the prior approval of the General Manager.

Hygiene and Disinfection

1. Volunteers will continue to wipe down and disinfect employee facing and customer facing common areas.
2. Staff are to continue to observe social distancing measures.
3. The wearing of masks by employees is optional. ANRA has masks available for employees upon request.

Wednesday April 29th – Neches Compost Facility to reopen for public sales

The Angelina & Neches River Authority’s Neches Compost Facility (NCF) will reopen to the general public Thursday, April 30 at 8:00 a.m.

ANRA General Manager Kelley Holcomb said, “The facility was temporarily closed to the public on March 26 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the continuation of the facilities core operations of providing bio solids disposal functions for municipal wastewater systems.

Thursday March 26th – ANRA enacts stage 2 measures to combat virus

Operational Activities:

1. Central Office:
   1. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, the lobby area will be closed to the general public. Signage has already been developed and will be hung on the front doors for customer notification.
   2. All water customers, OSSF customers and Lab customers will be directed (via signage and markers) to the shipping receiving area for ALL business transactions.
   3. All walk-in customers will be encouraged to use some form of electronic payment; i.e., debit, credit or ANRA’s online payment portal.
2. Neches Compost Facility:
   1. Compost sales are suspended effective immediately.
   2. All tours, site visits and educational events are suspended.
   3. Sludge and woodwaste disposal activities will continue as normal.

Purchasing and Travel:

1. 1. All non-essential purchases for every department are suspended. Examples of essential purchases/services include vehicle fuel, treatment chemicals, items used for critical repair and maintenance of facilities and equipment, and supplies that are vital to maintain ANRA’s core functions.
   2. All training events, ANRA sponsored volunteer events, and work-related travel outside of the Neches River basin is suspended.
   3. Exceptions include purchasing activities associated with capital improvement projects, construction activities and other contractually required purchases.
   4. Any travel that contradicts these conditions requires the prior approval of the General Manager.

Hygiene and Disinfection (all facilities):

1. 1. A team of volunteers will be assembled to wipe down and disinfect employee facing and customer facing common areas.
   2. All multi-use eating and drinking utensils shall be collected and thoroughly washed and sanitized and will be stored or removed from the premises to prevent contamination.
   3. Single use items are preferred over multi-use items for such things as drink cups, stir sticks, hand towels. etc

Tuesday March 19th – ANRA enacts stage 1 measures to combat virus

In an overabundance of caution, and in an attempt to minimize the potential exposure to any infectious diseases, effective immediately, the following operational conditions are in force until the nationwide disaster declaration has been lifted.

1. Operations Activities:
   1. All wastewater process control sampling is suspended effective immediately.
   2. All programmatic sampling that can be pushed until next month or next quarter should be rescheduled.
   3. The OSSF enforcement program collection of an E-coli sample for verification is suspended. Enforcement cases will continue to be investigated with the exception of E-Coli sampling. The enforcement file chronological log should reflect the following statement:
      “Due to the nationwide disaster declaration as a result of the Coronavirus infection, E-coli sampling has been temporarily suspended. Sampling will resume once the disaster declaration has been lifted.”
   4. The Spring Fling originally scheduled for April 4th at the Neches Compost Facility is officially cancelled.
   5. All ANRA staff who drive an ANRA vehicle are directed to maintain fuel levels in all vehicles and equipment at no less than a half a tank of fuel at any given time.
   6. All emergency response vehicles and equipment should be prepped and made ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
2. Purchasing and Travel:
   1. All requisitions for non-essential supplies have been suspended.
   2. Non-essential supplies consist of office supplies, paper goods, and other consumables that are not absolutely necessary for conducting ANRA’s routine business.
   3. All staff members should immediately begin conserving all supplies in all program areas, with particular emphasis on paper goods.
   4. All non-essential travel, training and public meetings are suspended until further notice.

Additional restrictions may be initiated in the future based on additional information or changing conditions.