Web platform addresses Covid-19 challenges

A new website dedicated to collaboration and knowledge sharing in the water sector has been launched by technology consultancy Isle.

Sponsored by leading water industry partners, the Water Action Platform started as a response to Covid-19. The platform pools experience and expertise from utilities around the world and has grown to encompass a much wider range of topics.

The Water Action Platform is open to all and will be especially useful to water utilities, technology companies, global industry groups, governments, and financial and academic institutions. This dynamic platform will catalyse experiences within the global water network to foster responses to Covid-19, at scale, to protect lives and livelihoods.

“Only through targeted global collaboration and coordinated action can we assist with the response to and recovery from this unprecedented health emergency. We aim to identify ways to support utilities and minimise the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on communities around the world where we can,” says Piers Clark, chairman, Isle.

Six key learnings from the Water Action Platform

195 technologies addressing Covid-19 issues Technology will play a key role as utilities seek sustainable, viable solutions to Covid-19 challenges. Detailed research has identified 95 technologies with a role to play in virus detection, removal, monitoring and contingency, including: • 8 for detecting and monitoring for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 • 32 with a proven ability to remove or deactivate SARS-CoV-1 or 2 • 29 for supporting remote work • 26 that can help water utilities manage contingency in times of crisis.

2Nanopore technology offers early virus detection potential A molecule-sensing technology developed by UK company Oxford Nanopore could be on the cusp of a breakthrough into the water sector due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The company has developed the only technology that offers the sequencing of native deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) along with genuine real-time monitoring.

The technology has been successfully applied in other sectors and can identify the DNA and RNA of microorganisms or viruses in liquids by looking at the resistance created across the nanomembrane, which varies across different microbe species.

3Sewage epidemiology is increasingly valuable The huge value and potential of using

sewage epidemiology for scanning the spread of Covid-19 infection in populations is being revealed. Contrary to early assumptions, evidence based on sewage sample analysis now shows that the virus arrived in Italy in December 2019, rather than February 2020 as originally thought.

4Two factors impact on the cost of implementing wastewater surveillance The Water Action Platform community is keen to learn how to cost the implementation of an epidemiological wastewater surveillance system for SARS-CoV-2. Costs vary depending on geographic location and the availability of laboratory capacity at the appropriate biosafety level and access to commercial and university labs. More data is being gathered on the costs of epidemiological surveys.

5Utilities face huge revenue losses due to Covid-19 Utilities around the world anticipate a major loss in revenue due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The current prediction of the financial impact of Covid-19 on US drinking water utilities is approximately US$13.9 billion (R238 billion), representing an overall 16.9% financial toll.

“If this is the scale of impact in the US, where the majority of residents are able and willing to pay their water bills, the impact in other parts of the world is going to be even more extreme,” says Clark.

SPONSORS

Sponsors of the Water Action Platform include: • World Bank • Unicef • Water Services Association of Australia • AquaFed • AfriAlliance • World Water Innovation Fund • Institution of Civil Engineers • Inheritance Enterprises • Instituto Tecnológico de Galicia • Atkins • Hydro International • Skion Water • Aqualia • Metito • LuminUltra Technologies • Andeye

6Water vending machines provide affordable supplies The need for all communities to have access to affordable piped water supplies has become even more critical through the Covid-19 pandemic. Where that is not yet possible, the roll-out of solar-powered water vending machines is providing a practical alternative.

The water ‘ATMs’ are an economically viable and safe solution for urban and rural communities. Pricing is not much more than the cost of piped supplies, and the purified rainwater is paid for via a water card, purchased from vendors and local shops.

To join the Water Action Platform community, visit www.wateractionplatform.com.