The International Association of Waterworks in the Danube Region (IAWD) and the World Bank organized a webinar today, June 24, 2020, on the topic “Detection and management of COVID-19 in sanitary wastewater” via a video link.

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a threat to human health but also a challenge for both professionals in charge of water technology and operators in charge of wastewater infrastructure. This webinar brought together some of the leading wastewater technology experts from the Institute of Water Technology as well as from the academic community. Their task was to present solutions to the challenges related to the monitoring and management of COVID-19 present in sanitary wastewater.

The aim of this webinar was to enhance knowledge and understanding of how the latest advances in wastewater technology can help better manage the global COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how to mitigate its impact on wastewater systems. The webinar provided participants with an insight into the technological advances developed during the pandemic, as well as an overview of potential approaches to best protect public health. During the webinar, panelists could be asked questions to learn better from the experiences gained for future activities in individual specific circumstances.

Panelists at today’s webinar were: Dr. Damir Brdanović, Professor of Sanitary Engineering at IHE Delft (formerly UNESCO-IHE) Institute for Water Education and Professor at the University of Technology in Delft; Dr. Dragan Savić, Associate of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Executive Director of the Institute for Water Research; Dr. Norbert Kreuzinger, Associate Professor at the Institute for Water Quality, Resources and Waste Management, Technical University of Vienna. The moderator of this event was Mr. Stjepan Gabrić, a specialist in water supply and sewerage from the World Bank.