Low risk of COVID-19 in SA water systems

There is no evidence that COVID-19 will contaminate water supplies, but the pandemic has highlighted water challenges putting communities’ health at risk, say industry stakeholders.

Panellists participating in a high-level webinar hosted by Messe Muenchen South Africa, organiser of IFAT Africa, said this week that although international scientists were using COVID-19 RNA in sewage to track the prevalence of the virus in communities, there was no evidence that COVID-19 could pose a risk via drinking water. However, the pandemic was highlighting the health risks up to 30% of the South African population faces through lack of access to piped water.

The virus does not survive waste-water treatment plant processing or the treatment for reuse, the panellists said.

To watch the full webinar discussion, click here