Addressing associated risks of COVID-19 infections across water and wastewater service chain in Asia

Bao, Pham Ngoc; Canh, Vu Duc

Safely managed water supply and wastewater services have been playing key roles in maintaining good water environmental quality, stopping the spread of disease and protecting public health during infectious outbreaks, including of ongoing coronavirus outbreak 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2. Recently, there are a growing number of scientific research findings, and reports around the world, which revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is detected in untreated domestic and hospital wastewater, and it is spreading through human feces. In order to address this emerging challenge and minimize associated human health risks, it is essential to have a better understanding on possible routes of SARS-CoV-2 infections and contamination across water and wastewater service chain based on recent scientific findings. Consequently, it will assist local authorities in identifying and implementing appropriate preventive countermeasures to stop possible COVID-19 transmission. Roles of using regular viral surveillance in untreated wastewater in the affected areas have also been highlighted in the chapter, as an effective early-warning tool, for revealing true scale of the coronavirus outbreak, trends of the pandemic, as well as providing early warnings to the community. If SARS-CoV-2 can be effectively monitored in infected communities at an early stage through wastewater-based epidemiology, together with results from clinical diagnostic testing or even in the areas where clinical surveillance is poor, effective interventions and preparedness actions can be taken as early as possible to restrict the movements of infected population, as well as to minimize the pathogen spread and threat to public health.