Related Articles Strategies for managing N95 mask shortages at water resource recovery facilities during pandemics a review Water Sci Technol 2020 Dec 82 12 2798 2812 Authors Maal Bared R Loudon J Abstract As the numbers of COVID 19 cases grew globally the severe shortages of health care respiratory protective equipment impacted the ability of water resource recovery facilities WRRFs to acquire N95 masks for worker protection While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA encourages WRRFs to conduct job safety assessments to mitigate risks from bioaerosols it does not provide clear guidance on respiratory protection requirements leaving the use of N95 masks across the industry non standardized and difficult to justify Strategies need to be developed to cope with shortages during pandemics and these should take into consideration a WRRF s size and disinfection equipment available Our objective is to provide an overview of respiratory protection related practices recommended for health care professionals that apply to WRRFs e g elimination substitution extended use reuse disinfection Reviewed N95 mask disinfection strategies included using hydrogen peroxide autoclaving moist heat dry heat ultraviolet germicidal irradiation UVGI ethylene oxide chlorine and ethanol Of these dry heat autoclaving and UVGI present the most promise for WRRFs with UVGI being limited to larger utilities We recommend that WRRFs work closely with disinfection technology manufacturers mask providers health and safety staff and inspectors to develop suitable programs to cope with N95 mask shortages during pandemics PMID 33341771 PubMed as supplied by publisher