Some Coronavirus information on presence in water and sewage that might be helpful

[Mike 03]

3. Here's a bit of the gist

The facts about COVID-19 and drinking water
A technical brief from the World Health Organisation (WHO) was released in early March for water and sanitation practitioners and providers.

There is no evidence about the survival of the COVID-19 virus in drinking water or sewage, WHO said, adding that the two main routes of transmission are respiratory or contact.

As an enveloped virus, COVID-19 is “not robust”, less stable in the environment and is more susceptible to oxidants, such as chlorine.

Conventional, centralised water treatment methods that use “filtration and disinfection should inactivate the COVID-19 virus”, the Organisation added.

In areas where centralised treatment is not present, “household water treatment technologies” including boiling, or using high-performing ultrafiltration or nanofiltration filters, solar irradiation, and, in non-turbid waters, UV irradiation and appropriately dosed free chlorine”, should be used.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) remarked that the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water.

What happens if water treatment plant operators are quarantined?
Answering the question ‘What if workers are quarantined at home, will water still be supplied?’, the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) responded: “water utilities are well prepared to manage their response to COVID-19”.

In general water treatment plants are secure, have back up power and require few staff to operate them and some water treatment plants can be operated remotely, the associated said.

It added that water utilities ensure that multiple staff are able to operate water treatment plants and water supply systems so that if one person is on leave for any reason drinking water can still be safely and reliably supplied.

However, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) said that potential absenteeism could “affect drinking water and wastewater system operators and their capability to operate and maintain their systems adequately, thereby increasing the risks to public health”.

The Netherlands and Australia are covered, at least.