Preparing for outbreaks – Implications for resilient water utility operations and services

Gude, Veera Gnaneswar; Muire, Preeti J.

doi:10.1016/j.scs.2020.102558

Cited by 50 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Moreover, indoor built environment conditions can be controlled and maintained to prevent the transmission of the virus since higher temperatures and humidity decrease the risk of virus transmission ( V et al., 2020 ). Water and wastewater management, one of the important aspects of urban areas, is also greatly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring careful management and special attention to prevent the spread of the virus Gude & Muire (2021) . These issues are a clear indication of the need for future changes in urban design and the conditions of the built environment.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stakeholder based weights of new sustainability indicators providing pandemic resilience for residential buildings

Tokazhanov

Tleuken

Durdyev

et al. 2021

Sustainable Cities and Society

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During COVID-19, the building and service characteristics of residential buildings turned out to be more critical due to lockdowns. The present research assesses the importance of new sustainability indicators for residential buildings in three categories (e.g., Health and Safety, Environmental Resources Consumption, and Comfort) that provide resilience for pandemic periods. The opinions of stakeholders on the identified indicators were collected and then analyzed. ‘Health and Safety’ category is found to be the most critical among the others. The prevention of virus propagation, mental health, and building air quality are three crucial indicators playing essential roles in the health and safety category. In more detail, innovative smart technologies, including touchless technologies, are identified as a priority in preventing virus propagation. Outdoor spaces and safe indoor places for socialization are weighted as essential in supporting the well-being and mental health of the resident. Finally, air filtration and segregation of medical waste indicators are considered critical in preventing the spread of viruses. There was a consensus among the local and international experts since they did not significantly report differing opinions for the majority of the indicators. However, there was a shift in experts’ opinions towards pandemic-oriented indicators compared to conventional sustainability indicators.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stakeholder based weights of new sustainability indicators providing pandemic resilience for residential buildings

Tokazhanov

Tleuken

Durdyev

et al. 2021

Sustainable Cities and Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…During first phases of the pandemic, with no effective vaccines and other medical alternatives to treat the disease, governments took measures to promote handwashing with water and soap, IPC, and to implement quarantine and physical distancing, such as school closure, suspension of public transportation services, and temporary prohibition of public gatherings and non-essential economic activities. At that stage, it was critical for essential businesses such as the delivery of water and sanitation services to continue their routine operations, in order to reduce the transmission and spread of COVID- 19 ( Gude and Muire, 2021 ). As time passed, countries managed the crisis in different ways, taking various approaches to gradually open essential and non-essential activities, and reinstating restrictions following relapses.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 water, sanitation, and hygiene response: Review of measures and initiatives adopted by governments, regulators, utilities, and other stakeholders in 84 countries

Giné‐Garriga

Delepiere

Ward

et al. 2021

Science of The Total Environment

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The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on handwashing as an inexpensive, widely applicable response measure. In consequence, most governments have taken action to promote access to water and sanitation services for all. This paper documents an overview of initiatives and interventions that countries have implemented during the first months of the COVID-19 response. Initiatives have been identified across 84 countries worldwide, and categorized into those that aimed at securing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for all, and those that sought to provide technical and financial support to service providers. The pandemic has not hit countries in the same way. Accordingly, results show disparities in the response between and within regions, with the level of activity found in the countries varying largely in terms of ambition and scope. Hygiene promotion and infection prevention and control (IPC) has been widely adopted – at least one response measure found in 94% of mapped countries -, although not always matched in ambition with the assured availability of soap, water, and handwashing facilities. Support to vulnerable households to promote basic access to WASH services at scale was weak (38% of countries) or implemented locally (25%), and requiring additional focus, particularly in rural areas and small towns. In addition, parallel support needs to be extended to service providers or to households themselves in the form of cash transfers, in order to ensure the financial viability and the continuity of services. All lessons learned distilled from the pandemic should help strengthen the enabling environment for more resilient services in future emergencies. Areas for focus could include developing specific pandemic response strategies and plans; strengthening coordination; and establishing emergency financial support mechanisms for water operators, for example. Overall, findings presented herein contribute to enhance current and future pandemics prevention, mitigation, and recovery.

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“…• Where many businesses simply shut down or went remote during the worst parts of the pandemic, water utilities have not had the same options. Some physical presence is still necessary, but with pandemic precautions, and water utility staff have had to learn a new way of working (Berglund et al 2021;Gude and Muire 2021). Specific questions include the following:…”

Section: Research Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Considerations for Studying the Impacts of COVID-19 and Other Complex Hazards on Drinking Water Systems

Sowby

Lunstad

2021

J. Infrastruct. Syst.

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Preparing for outbreaks – Implications for resilient water utility operations and services

Abstract: Highlights Discussed economic impact of water utilities and COVID-19 health impacts on workforce. Presented case studies on preparedness and response to COVID-19 by utilities. Reviewed alternate resiliency strategies for response during and after outbreaks.

Cited by 50 publications

References 60 publications

Stakeholder based weights of new sustainability indicators providing pandemic resilience for residential buildings

Stakeholder based weights of new sustainability indicators providing pandemic resilience for residential buildings

COVID-19 water, sanitation, and hygiene response: Review of measures and initiatives adopted by governments, regulators, utilities, and other stakeholders in 84 countries

Considerations for Studying the Impacts of COVID-19 and Other Complex Hazards on Drinking Water Systems

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