Water and COVID-19: Risks and Opportunities

The Pacific Institute’s mission ─ to create and advance solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges ─ is more vital now than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the value of water and its connections to human health, but it has also highlighted longstanding water management deficiencies. For example, we know hand washing is one of the most effective ways for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases. Yet 40% of the global population – three billion people – live without soap and water available at home. In the face of COVID-19, they are among the most vulnerable and most at risk of being left behind.

This challenge faces communities across the United States, including in California. In fact, more than two million Americans lack running water and indoor plumbing, and millions more can’t afford basic water service. To make matters worse, the economic crisis precipitated by COVID-19 is causing unemployment in the U.S. to skyrocket, putting far more people at risk of being unable to pay for water. As part of the our efforts in this area, in September 2020 we prepared Water Recommendations for the Next President, a letter to the next president of the United States outlining our water recommendations in many areas, including public health.

This global health crisis has raised new water-related challenges for local communities, water agencies, and the private sector. Yet, it could also be an important turning point for addressing longstanding water management challenges, including the failure to provide safe and affordable water and sanitation for all. The surge in interest, along with potentially massive investments by the business community and government to mitigate risks and help ailing economies, could provide a rare opportunity for more effective and equitable water policy and management.

The Pacific Institute is committed to providing data, analysis, and recommendations for addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19. In May 2020, we launched a Water and Pandemic Task Force to provide timely and useful analysis and recommendations about the links between water, human health, the coronavirus, and the roles of the public and private sector. The task force was comprised of Pacific Institute staff and included collaboration with groups from around the world.

Explore the work of our Water and Pandemic Task Force, as well as our other recent work on the COVID-19 pandemic and water:

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CASE STUDIES


ISSUE BRIEFS AND FACT SHEETS

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Learn more about our work on safe and affordable water here.

Explore resources on COVID-19 and water from UN-Water here.

If you are interested in supporting this work financially or through a collaborative partnership, please contact Gunther Korshak, Associate Director of Development at gkorshak@pacinst.org.

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