In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the role of public water operators in their communities has proven critical. Throughout the lockdowns in Europe, committed essential workers have supported our societies by ensuring that clean and safe water was flowing and that sanitation services were available 24 hours a day, immediately at home. Now that lockdown measures are being lifted throughout Europe, this central role for public health role continues as waste water is appearing to be an important tool in tracking the virus in populations.

On 2 June, Aqua Publica Europea co-hosted the UN Habitat's Global Water Operators Partnership Alliance (GWOPA) webinar “Emergency response, business continuity and resilience of utilities” on the response of water operators to COVID-19 emergency. The webinar gathered 152 participants from 45 countries.