COVID-19: A Utility Leaders’ Response

IWA Water; COVID-19; Water management; Health, Utilities

Target Audience

Water utility managers, water professionals.

Description

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, water and wastewater utilities are considered as essential services all across the globe. To allow for a prompt response to the increase in the water demand and consumption, water and sanitation service providers need to continue normal operations but they are facing many challenges during this uncertain time. These range from managing their operations with reduced personnel to impacts on income streams to stress on the system due to increased water use.

This Online Discussion brings together water utility leaders to share their perspectives, experiences and response to the challenges caused by COVID-19, the lessons being learned in adapting to a changing situation, and the main messages they are communicating to their customers.

CEOs will provide short overviews of the responses of their utilities to COVID-19, followed by a panel discussion inviting questions from webinar participants.

Learning Objectives

• Understanding of the challenges that water and sanitation service providers are facing with COVID-19, and how they are being addressed
• Sharing lessons to ensure continued service delivery in an atypical and challenging situation
• Approaches and messaging utilities are using to communicate to their customers on the safety and security of water and sanitation services

Host

International Water Association

Panelists

  • Claudio Cosentino, President of ACEA ATO2 - Italy
  • Shuangyi Zhang, Shanghai National Engineering Research Center of Urban Water Resources - China
  • David Gadis, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, DC WATER - USA
  • Christopher Loughlin, Chief Executive Officer, South West - UK
  • T. Prabhushankar, Executive Director, Chennai Metro Water - India
  • moderated by Diane d'Arras , IWA President