How have water utilities responded to COVID-19?

The global pandemic has highlighted the importance of clean water in reducing transmissions. In light to the pandemic, some governments instructed water utilities to lessen the cost of water and attempt to provide it for free. This has been the case in 11 countries in Africa, with The Democratic Republic of Congo supplying water free of cost for two months and Ghana pledging to absorb water bills for three months.

However, water utilities are now struggling, with a decrease in revenue and increased demand, rising costs for utilities. The pandemic has placed stress on utilities to boost the supply of water and meet demand, to assure everyone has access to clean water to prevent transmissions. Growing debt threatens water provision -as utilities have no guarantee of debt collection- with a potential decline in water supply, increasing COVID-19 cases.

Full article: https://www.devex.com/news/utilities-struggle-to-keep-the-taps-on-amid-covid-19-97794