Implications of Social Distancing Policies on Drinking Water Infrastructure: An Overview of the Challenges to and Responses of U.S. Utilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Social distancing policies (SDPs) implemented throughout the United States in response to COVID-19 have led to spatial and temporal shifts in drinking water demand and, for water utilities, created sociotechnical challenges. During this unique period, many water utilities have been forced to operate outside of design conditions with reduced workforce and financial capacities. Few studies have examined how water utilities respond to a pandemic; such methods are even absent from many emergency response plans. Here, we documented how utilities have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a qualitative analysis of 30 interviews with 53 practitioners spanning 28 U.S. water utilities. Our aim was to, first, understand the challenges experienced by utilities and changes to operations (e.g., demand and deficit accounts) and, second, to document utilities' responses. Results showed that to maintain service continuity and implement SDPs, utilities had to overcome various challenges. These include supply chain issues, spatiotemporal changes in demand, and financial losses, and these challenges were largely dependent on the type of customers served (e.g., commercial or residential). Examples of utilities' responses include proactively ordering extra supplies and postponing capital projects. Although utilities' adaptations ensured the immediate provision of water services, their responses might have negative repercussions in the future (e.g., delayed projects contributing to aging infrastructure).

Impacts of COVID-19 social distancing policies on water demand: A population dynamics perspective

“…These policies, referred to hereafter as social distancing policies (SDPs), include measures such as lockdowns, social distancing, and work-from-home orders ( Balacco et al, 2020 ; Roidt et al, 2020 ; Sivakumar, 2020 ). These SDPs have impacted social activities ( Balanzá–Martínez et al, 2020 ; Sheehan et al, 2020 ), businesses ( Nicola et al, 2020 ), the natural environment ( Aydın et al, 2020 ; Elsaid et al, 2021 ; He et al, 2020 ; Mostafa et al, 2021 ; Paleologos et al, 2020 ), and infrastructure system performance ( Balacco et al, 2020 ; Hantoko et al, 2021 ; Kalbusch et al, 2020 ; Spearing et al, 2020 ). Scholars have already begun to explore the implications of SDPs; prior to COVID-19, there was, for various sectors, a dearth of pandemic-focused literature ( Roidt et al, 2020 ; Spearing et al, 2020 ).…”

“…These SDPs have impacted social activities ( Balanzá–Martínez et al, 2020 ; Sheehan et al, 2020 ), businesses ( Nicola et al, 2020 ), the natural environment ( Aydın et al, 2020 ; Elsaid et al, 2021 ; He et al, 2020 ; Mostafa et al, 2021 ; Paleologos et al, 2020 ), and infrastructure system performance ( Balacco et al, 2020 ; Hantoko et al, 2021 ; Kalbusch et al, 2020 ; Spearing et al, 2020 ). Scholars have already begun to explore the implications of SDPs; prior to COVID-19, there was, for various sectors, a dearth of pandemic-focused literature ( Roidt et al, 2020 ; Spearing et al, 2020 ). Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a gap in knowledge and practice regarding how SDPs may impact the water sector.…”

“…Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a gap in knowledge and practice regarding how SDPs may impact the water sector. As such, researchers are working to identify and understand the following issues: pandemic-related challenges to and responses of utilities ( AWWA, 2020 ; Spearing et al, 2020 ; World Bank, 2020 ) as well as other water-sector companies (e.g., engineering and consulting firms) ( Cotterill et al, 2020 ); water-demand changes and patterns ( Balacco et al, 2020 ; Cooley et al, 2020 ; Kalbusch et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2021 ; Rizvi et al, 2020 ); infrastructures’ operational constraints ( Cooley et al, 2020 ) and water-service-related quality issues ( Cooley et al, 2020 ; Sivakumar, 2020 ) in response to water-demand changes; natural water resource quality ( Cooley et al, 2020 ; Lokhandwala and Gautam, 2020 ; Pant et al, 2021 ); water security ( Cooley et al, 2020 ; Kassem and Jaafar, 2020 ; Rafa et al, 2020 ); and sensitivity of the water-energy nexus to pandemic lockdowns ( Roidt et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Moreover, they have altered the traditional underlying consumption dynamics (e.g., delayed morning peaks) ( Balacco et al, 2020 ; Rizvi et al, 2020 ). A recent investigation ( Spearing et al, 2020 ) into challenges confronting U.S. water utilities—challenges related specifically to technical system—reported the following: more than 20% of utilities were unsure whether they had experienced demand changes in response to SDPs; the uncertainty was due to lack of information or data availability, or they had simply not explored these impacts. Yet to identify and adequately respond to system vulnerabilities, water utilities need to understand the spatiotemporal changes in their water demand and what impacts they have on system performance ( Cooley et al, 2020 ; Zhuang and Sela, 2020 ).…”

The Social Sustainability of Infrastructure: Constructing for Justice

“…Here's another example of the ways in which our normative and cultural-cognitive theories of human behaviour influence our infrastructure systems. Over the summer of 2020 Kasey Faust and I, along with our students Lauryn Spearing and Nathalie Thelemaque and other faculty collaborators Lynn Katz, Kerry Kinney, Mary Jo Kirisits, and Lina Sela, were able to study the ways that social distancing from the COVID-19 pandemic changed the technical and organisational performance of water infrastructure systems (Spearing et al, 2020). Again linking the social to the technical in a rebounding chain, we design and construct infrastructure systems to be used in certain ways, with often tacit assumptions about theories of human behaviour behind them.…”