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Remote access gave utilities Covid-19 advantage, says review


Water utilities who already had remote access to their systems were at an advantage when Covid-19 lockdowns were introduced around the world. The information comes from a report carried out by technology consultancy Isle on behalf of the Water Action Platform collaborative initiative.


The study’s aim was to find technologies that can help water utilities deal with the coronavirus public health crisis. Isle’s technology analysts asked utilities around the world about their specific challenges in the technical, organisational and operational spheres.


Speaking on the Water Action Platform webinar on 20 August 2020, Isle’s Covid-19 lead, European director Matthew Stephenson said, “This technology review has involved a study of the latest global understanding of the virus in relation to water and wastewater. The most significant impacts on water utilities were the disruption and complication of lockdowns, social distancing measures and staff absence due to illness.


“From early discussions with some water utilities, those who already had remote access to their systems were clearly at an advantage when lockdowns began. One could argue that remote access to systems has been the single most important technology during the pandemic.”


Isle’s analysts found 28 technologies that remove or reduce the need to travel to site and offer incremental steps towards a more remote utility operation. These include KickTheMap, a mobile app developed in Switzerland, which enables users to carry out instant 3D-mapping, which Stephenson said was “very useful for initial site surveys and risk assessments”.


Another was Vuforia Chalk, an artificial intelligence platform from US-headquartered Rockwell Automation, which allows teams to communicate online and share knowledge intuitively. “Perhaps of real use in standby situations where there may not be enough time to get to site,” said Stephenson.


Some 200 technologies were reviewed by Isle’s analysts for the Technology Horizon Scan and 100 suitable solutions found, which are now accessible on a purpose-built online portal. The review was split into four


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Vuforia chalk allows teams to communicate online and share knowledge intuitively.


components: • Virus detection and testing • Removal and deactivation of the virus • Remotemonitoring and control


• Solutions to helpmanage the crisis as a whole.


The focus for technologies that can detect the virus inwater andwastewaterwas on field kits offering rapid indication of the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Technologies fromTexas-based Water Lens, Luminultra,which is headquartered in Canada, and UK company Oxford Nanopore are all highlighted.


Systems that canmake sense of the test data by connecting resultswith location and advanced analytics forwastewater-based epidemiologywere also featured. Technologies highlighted included those from GoAigua in Spain, Biobot Analytics (US) and Kando (Israel/US).


The advice of theWorld Health Organisation is that traditionalwater andwastewater processes are sufficient to remove the risk of the virus entering into thewater system. However, the reviewsought specific evidence aboutwhich parts of various treatment trains could remove or deactivate the virus in order to give utilities greater clarity and confidence.


Chlorine-based disinfection and UV treatment were found to be particularlywell evidenced, but definitive research on ozone treatment was not found by the study. On removal of


SARS-CoV-2, it is already known that the larger pore sizes ofmicrofiltration do not guarantee removal of the virus,while themany ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis technologies,which all have pore sizes less than 50nmare effective.


Other technologies highlighted included devices for physiological surveillance to manage staff health. They includemany for the fast ormassmonitoring of temperature andwearable devices formonitoring vital health indicators, even coughs.


“The Covid-19 Technology Horizon Scan has been fantastic in bringing forward technologies thatwewouldn’t usually have been looking for,” said Stephenson. “We have seen a huge array of digital solutions,many around communications, that utilities can pick up and use very quickly.


“The report is also very valuable to utilities in understanding the evidence behind different treatment technologies, to give themthe fully picture.”


The Technology Horizon Scan:Managing COVID-19was funded by 23water utilities and banks fromaround theworld


Water Action Platformwebinar 17 also includes the latest research onwastewater epidemiology and Covid-19 and an update on the Crisis Response Register, set up to support organisations on the ground in crises such as the recent explosion n Beirut.


October 2020 | drain TRADER 19


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