Do you think the COVID-19 pandemic will significantly impact on water systems? With respect to recreational, surface and groundwater quality and supply?
I think that the impact of covid19 on the world wide economy will be woriest than the last economic collaspe , and water structures are a part of the economy , so the developpement of such structures will be affected with the lack of inverstments . We will feel the impact after few years.
The different stages of water treatment, usually implemented by water distribution services, starting with the various disinfection methods (chlorine, ozone, UV), are intended to eliminate all viruses, including coronavirus.
Information from health agencies, including the World Health Organization, indicates that this virus does not show any particular resistance to the usual treatment of drinking water. According to scientific and epidemiological knowledge already established, no case of contamination is related to drinking water.
The epidemic of the new coronavirus has not contaminated the environment in China, and the quality of surface water and drinking water has remained stable.
Between February 1 and 19, Chinese environmental authorities controlled more than 6,900 sources of drinking water in the country and found no impact of the epidemic on the quality of the sources.
The quality of drinking water sources in Hubei province, the point of origin of the epidemic and the region with the highest number of infections, meets standards.
On the other hand, with regard to wastewater, the new coronavirus has been found in a few cities in the Netherlands. Read this article on this subject.
https://www.rivm.nl/node/153991?fbclid=IwAR0MsLbCzJPg6wKZhxcxRx8-uaLOJDMBvXbwXLWyKh8ZLL5U0OsYOs3CtuA
Regards
I think that the impact of covid19 on the world wide economy will be woriest than the last economic collaspe , and water structures are a part of the economy , so the developpement of such structures will be affected with the lack of inverstments . We will feel the impact after few years.
The major part of water mobilization structures are financed by governemental funds, after this economical collapse , where did they find funds? also the green energy and envirement protection programes which are funded by governements and international organisations . I think that Most part of that funds will be oriented toward economy support.
Thanks very much, Dr Bachir Achour, for your detailed response.
Certainly, so. As the COVID-19 cases are grwoing exponentially, we will find the traces of the virus in the domestic and industrial wastewater source. Effluent from many hospitals and coronavirus affected areas will carry the virus. In one study from RIVM, Netherlands, they already found COVID-19 in the influent of the wastewater treatment plant. That study was based on a small sample size. As the disease is growing exponentilly, the foot print of coronavirus will be found in many areas of the globe.
It will have affect water supply as it is now the water demand is increasing daily. So if this continue it will affect aquifers. We will be experiencing discharge than recharge. but in anyway it will balance off.
It may be, COVID-19 can go into surface water and groundwater form wastewater.
You might well be interested in this KWR report:
https://www.kwrwater.nl/en/actueel/what-can-we-learn-about-the-corona-virus-through-waste-water-research/
At the bottom of the report there is a link to a relevant webinar in the topic.
Yes since the pandemic comes with lockdown and additional sanitation need. As such, the demand and consumption rate at the domestic level will be higher. Furthermore, consumption at the service industry such as hospital will be higher. The distribution and treatment capacity will also be limited unless water services are treated as essential services.
The pandemic is definitely having an impact on water resources and from the look of things, a positive one..
The positive side to corona....
Corona ..... the environment is recovering and the economy is shrinking Corona, according to scientific studies, has helped restore c
The ozone layer increased by 95%, and the level of pollution decreased significantly. All over the world, countries where factories and companies closed high quality in the air have witnessed due to decreased levels of air pollution. The quarantine system that many countries in the world have imposed a positive impact on the environment by reducing Pollution and the preservation of the environment. In some cities, such as Venice, this epidemic managed to achieve unexpected environmental effects, including the fact that the water in the water channels has become clear and pure, and that their quality has become high, and that the amount of fish in these channels is greater than they were previously due to the low pollution. And loyalty, as well as lower numbers of tourists and workers in the city has led to improved water quality because of the low wastewater health in the channels. I think Corona has a positive effect on water systems through.
Yes, I do. I think that the quality of water can be compromise if the lockdown continue, which can occur is the missing of product of disinfection with the interruption in chemical industries that are with less workers.
It has been reported that coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-19 virus responsible for COVID-19 pandemic can remain infectious for days in sewage and drinking water. This novel coronavirus can also colonize biofilms that line the drinking water systems.
Munira--can you please describe the source(s) for this important information? Are there references or links to this information?
Thanks.
Thank you, Drs. Munira Nasiruddin and James C. Trask, for your wonderful comments.
Dr Nasiruddin, I would be very glad if you respond to Dr Trask's comment. Thanks
Yes, I believe that there is an impact on water sources and can be avoided by following the correct methods of water treatment. Also, there can be an indirect impact through the impact of this pandemic on the economy and then reflected on the water supply in the region.
My view is that some of the water systems may collapse or stop working if there are lots of diversion of financial resources to pandemic management. African countries which have shown low priorities for public water supply and therefore operate the water supply at very low-medium level (this is evident with the number of households getting water from government public water supply) can easily boycott when they seized to carry out this important work.We can imagine what could happen to communities that rely on this, and the impact on the 'washing your hands every 15 minutes hygienic advise'.
In that African settings, especially those that rely on groundwater/borehole (medium/above averagely rich people), the system might remain until if it has a fault and 'order of movement' prevented early repair of the system. What happens to the people at that particular time.
Waste management is worst in most African countries and my fear is been exacerbated by unclear methods of managing medical wastes and what could be the impact on the groundwater system of the area where they ll be discharged, buried, burnt or incinerated.
So, water is at the central point of management of pandemic, and the systems must remain working.
Dr Trask,
You can have a look at the following links. I hope they will be helpful.
https://www.drinkpreneur.com
https://www.researcgate.net
https://www.bakerdonelson.com
Dear Drs. Bouroubi, Oke and Murphy, thank you very much for your useful contributions.
Dear Dr Nasiruddin, thanks for responding to Dr Trask's request and for sharing the links.
It is quite understandable that COVID-19 is a type of virus and will survive in all forms of water whether surface or groundwater. In the air, it will keep suspended as an aerosol and will start growing when a growth medium is available to it.
Regarding recreational parks etc. we will have to disinfect them before allowing anyone to enter them as without proper measures, this virus is likely to grow and spread in a lot of humans.
Well,
The viruses pandemic will significantly impact on water systems, throughout the disposals of untreated wastewater, especially, hospitals, drainage of wastewater containing high concentrations of biodegradable organic materials or produced from industries, especially food and leather factories or washing wool and from meat slaughterhouses and food factories.
Regards
Thanks very much, Dr Bayan Hussien, for your wonderful contribution.
I think it has a positive impact on our water systems. With governments imposing lockdowns and other prevent measures, the number of production industries are reduced. Some poisonous effluents like Mercury and Lead (Pb) that are sometimes untreated before discharged, which eventually end up in our water bodies, have been reduced.
I think to be able to answer this broad question, we need to track the changes happened as results of this crisis. For example, from water utilities point of view, is there a significant increase in residential water demand? If yes, then what is the consequences of such increase in the infrastructure and water treatment plants. Another example of changes, is the change in the amount of emissions that could be dissolved in surface water.
Virus remains in both viable and nonviable forms in water. There are certain traits which might trigger its pathogenic recurrence only when the system is perturbed. In general, coronaviridae is quite a potent candidate to spread via wastewater. Sufficient scientific studies are not directed in this part. Experimental evidences has provided few survival reports in case of SARS, MERS in some scientific studies including the recent nature paper. I hope that the new challenge must make processed and packaged food industry to incorporate the PCR tested safe label mandatory for packaged consumables. We must take precautions before intuitions are made corroborated by facts.
Thank you very much, Dr. J. Pal, for your wonderful contribution. Could you please share the recent nature paper you made reference to?
Yes, it will significantly impact on water systems especially surface water and subsurface water bodies.
There is two different impacts the negative one due to the impact of covid19 on the world wide economy and water structures project will stopped temporary as a part of the economy recession due to covid 19.
The positive impact the water pollution will be decreased (the water quality will be improved) due to less activities such as point sources and navigation will be minimum
Thanks very much, Dr Ahmed Moussa, for your valuable contribution.
Yes I think it will greatly impact water systems, for instance during this period, the domestic wastewater generation increases with increase demand for potable water. It will then increase nutrient load that gets to wastewater treatment plants if any. It is a fact that most wastewater gets to our water bodies partially treated or in its raw state which will then to increase the nutrient load.
Article Observed and Potential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on t...
It is reported that the virus can be active and infectious in surface and sub-surface waters, both.
Due to increased focus on handwashing in electronic and print media, people become more conscious as a result they are washing their hands about 5-7 times a day and cleaning their houses at least once daily. Due to this, average water consumption has increased by nearly 1.5 times. It would be difficult to provide adequate water for everyone in resource-poor countries.
There is no denying the fact that all micro organisms including viruses survive in an aquatic environment. COVID-19 is no exception. From there it can can be transmitted to humans by various means!!
Yes. The pandemic had indeed had a significant effect on water systems; more so those in highly industrialized areas. So far the effects have been on a positive trajectory given that most industrial processes came to a standstill and in the process halted the flow of millions of tons of wastewater into water bodies (at least in some regions) allowing the aquatic ecosystem to self purify.
I think looking at the impact COVID-19 has had on the world, as part of precautionary measures to prevent infection, hand washing has been on the increase significantly. This has led to an increase in exploitation of underground water, causing a reduction in quantity of underground water globally.
Definitely, it will impact on groundwater level due to the use of liquid material use for handwashing, cloth washing other homes supplementary have been used.
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