On one hand, the people have changed their perception about the importance of hygienic environment and now people tried to incorporate more hygienic lifestyle. This event ultimately has enhanced the load on water resources. On another hand has tried to isolate themself which may reduce the overload from water resource. Therefore, it is crucial to share the correlations of Coronavirus pandemic with water resources. Your view, ideas, perceptions are cordially invited.
https://www.researchgate.net/community/COVID-19
On one hand, there is higher use of water in household and sanitization activities but decrease in usage of water due to cessation of industrial and other urban activities. At the same time, the quality of water in water bodies has improved during the disease period. Therefore, there would be positive effect on quantity as well quality of water during Covid period.
In the longer term, the need for responsible use of Water Resources will e recognised.
On one hand the consumption of water resources have increased as result of Covid 19 pandemic due to the emphasis to wash hands in running water and maintain hygiene standards. With lock down, energy use has risen most of which is sourced from hydro sources. With higher consumption of water more wastewater is produced which could be a potential hazard to other resources.
Disinfection technology of hospital wastes and wastewater: Suggestions for
disinfection strategy during coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in China
"Hospitals are important sources of pollutants resulted from diagnostic, laboratory and research activities as well as medicine excretion by patients, which include active component of drugs and metabolite, chemicals, residues of pharmaceuticals, radioactive markers, iodinated contrast media, etc. The discharge of hospital wastes and wastewater, especially those without appropriate treatment would expose the public in danger of infection. In particular, under the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic context in China, it is of great significance to reduce the health risks to the public and environment. In this study, technologies of different types of hospital wastes and wastewater disinfection have been summarized. Liquid chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, ozone, and ultraviolet irradiation disinfection are commonly used for hospital wastewater disinfection. While incineration, chemical disinfection, and physical disinfection are commonly used for hospital wastes disinfection. In addition, considering the characteristics of various hospital wastes, the classification and selection of corresponding disinfection technologies are discussed. On this basis, this study provides scientific suggestions for management, technology selection, and operation of hospital wastes and wastewater disinfection in China, which is of great significance for development of national disinfection strategy for hospital wastes and wastewater during COVID-19 pandemic" (Wang et al., 2020).
Wang, J., Shen, J., Ye, D., Yan, X., Zhang, Y., Yang, W., Li, X., Wang,
J., Zhang, L., Pan, L., Disinfection technology of hospital wastes and wastewater: Suggestions for disinfection strategy during coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in China, Environmental Pollution (2020).
Article Disinfection technology of hospital wastes and wastewater: S...
Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for the COVID-19 virus Interim guidance 23 April 2020
" This interim guidance supplements the infection prevention and control (IPC) documents by summarizing WHO guidance on water, sanitation and health-care waste relevant to viruses, including coronaviruses. It is intended for water and sanitation practitioners and providers, and health-care providers who want to know more about water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) risks and practices. The provision of safe water, sanitation and hygienic conditions is essential for protecting human health during all infectious disease outbreaks, including of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Ensuring evidenced-based and consistently applied WASH and waste management practices in communities, homes, schools, marketplaces, and healthcare facilities will help prevent human-to-human transmission of, the virus that causes COVID-19. This guidance was originally published in March 2020. This first update provides details on hand hygiene, sanitation, protecting WASH workers and supporting the continuation and strengthening of WASH services, especially in underserved areas. This additional information has been prepared in response to the many questions that WHO received about the prevention and control of COVID-19 in settings where WASH services are limited and where there is emerging evidence on the presence of viral fragments in excreta and untreated sewage" (WHO and Unicef, 2020).
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331846/WHO-2019-nCoV-IPC_WASH-2020.3-eng.pdf
The delay in maintenance work for irrigation projects due to the comprehensive urbanization may cause the operation of irrigation channels and the efficient use of water, which will negatively affect agricultural production.
High water consumption and high consumption of alcoholic sterilizers that can cause future pollution of groundwater.
I am not talking about the people affected by COVID19 in water and wastewater industry. I want to raise the issue of discharged effluents from the COVID 19 hospitals/settlements to the wastewater systems which will ultimately affect the water quality of the downstream natural water systems or groundwater. This is still early to confirm but may be an urgent agenda of water/wastewater engineers in near future. The level of residual concentration of SARS-COV2 virus will determine whether the population will be at some risk or not. This is imminent issue that deserves attention at this time. This a research area still being developed.
Natural water bodies are replenishing which were earlier under the regular discharge of effluents however, domestic fresh water demand has been risen up for washing and cleaning amenities. This overuse of clean water for maintaining hygiene and sanitation can subsequently lead to water crises in near future. I believe there should be some capital investment in this sector to need our goal for water supply, sanitation, hygiene and hygiene services.
I can see some positive impact on water quality and aquatic habitat of major rivers during the intense phase of COVID-19 due to reduced domestic and industrial waste disposal to the rivers. Once the situation gets improved, people will think about fostering the economy in a double pace by enhancing the existing production rate. However, a sustainable and positive view point is expected from the educated citizens in maintaining the excellent water quality scenario restored during the earlier period. Moreover, policy makers and government needs to think about this in a more cautious way.
Good comments. My thoughts:
1. In addition to a higher water volume loading is the increased use of surfactants which will change the sewer flow dynamics and may require implementation of advanced oxidation upstream of biological digestion.
2. Need for higher quality tap water. If disinfection is more of a concern, and it is and should be, then tap waters have to be of a higher quality and that quality needs to be consistent. The use of chlorine is, naturally, precluded, the control of oxidation for disinfection will have to be extended for organic destruction...higher loading of antibiotics and alcohols (as mentioned by Brahim). These must be removed by AOP in waste facilities but potable intakes will have to do their own work to ensure they stop getting through.
3. Turn water production over to the private sector with the associated liabilities. Liabilities make the private sector behave by setting a standard that competition must meet or be bankrupted. But these will be much faster and more responsive to listed quality specs which wold need to include the trace organics.
https://www.wri.org/blog/2020/04/coronavirus-water-scarcity-hand-washing
This issue has to be seen in two parts. 1. During Lockdown 2. After releasing of lockdown.
1. During lockdown, as there is no agricultural or industrial activities, the only increase in the consumption of water is for washing hands at regular intervals. Though there is increase in the domestic consumption, that quantity is far less than the savings from the absence of industrial/agricultural activities. As many examples have been reported, in the absence of industrial and agricultural activities, many water bodies have improved in terms of quantity and water quality. However, the points mentioned by Dr. Evens Emannual are to be considered with utmost importance.
2. After the lockdown is removed, all the industrial and agricultural activities will restart and there will be pressure and demand on water. Over and above this, there will be continued sanitization practices of hand wash, thereby increased domestic usage of water. All these will lead to deterioration of water resources in terms of quantity and quality. Hence all our efforts/planning now have to be in terms of how to keep our water resources intact to the extent possible free from pollution and over-exploitation.
Hopefully, the use of water resources more judiciously will be appreciated after Covid 19.
Right now zero pollution I think water quality no impact due to COVID-19.
Follow this link Ganga river water quality
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lockdown-impact-ganga-water-in-haridwar-becomes-fit-to-drink-after-decades-1669576-2020-04-22
Lockdown effect: Ganga water fit for drinking after decades, say experts
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/08/lockdown-effect-ganga-water-fit-for-drinking-after-decades-say-experts-2140622.html
Please have a look at the link below:
Deleted research item The research item mentioned here has been deleted
Handling and disposal of wastes related to COVID-19 often require a large quantity of water, both during and after. Our efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 also will increase the water demand and worsen the water quality, leading to additional challenges in water planning and management.
Please go through the attached document below: