COVID-19 and the water sector: organizational resilience for a green recovery

Event description

The ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the water sector have been many and varied. From profound changes in working arrangements for many employees in the sector, to changes in water consumption patterns and wastewater treatment, and energy load, the pandemic has had wide and significant impacts that needed to be managed.

Lockdown in Spring 2020, followed by an easing of restrictions across the summer and a tightening of rules again through the autumn as cases increased again have presented varying conditions for the sector to work through. Far from the acute shocks the sector most frequently manages, COVID-19 presents a varying and longer-term set of resilience challenges.

At the same time the water industry has been targeted by government as one which can help as a catalyst of a green recovery by bringing forward investment plans to energise the economy.

Research conducted by CIWEM, University College Dublin, University of Exeter and University of the West of England sheds a light on the detail of these initial experiences (see the full length original research paper in the Water and Environment Journal). The research is continuing in a second phase to understand how the sector can apply lessons from the initial impact and experience from other resilience challenges to bring new and lasting improvements to planning and operation that will drive a green recovery.

This webinar shares the findings and themes identified by CIWEM’s initial research and will discuss how progress can be delivered in particular areas of need.

Watch the recording from the session

Booking and joining information

This event is open to members and non-members of CIWEM.

The webinar will be hosted on the Zoom platform. Please note that registrations will close 24 hours before the event starts. If you have not registered before that time, unfortunately we cannot add you to the event. You will receive an email with joining instructions after you have successfully registered for the event and the registration has been approved by our team. If you have any questions about your booking, please contact events@ciwem.org.