Aqua Publica Europea THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC WATER - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1

Aqua Publica Europea

THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC WATER OPERATORS

European water operators’ response to COVID-19 emergency: lessons learnt GWOPA Webinar Series 02/06/2020

About Aqua Publica Europea

65 Members

Public water

• perators and

their associations

70+ MILLION

citizens served every day

8 BILLION

euros of aggregated turnover

APE’s mission

Represent the public water sector Provide a platform for mutual learning

The APE Platform

APE provides a dynamic platform for members to exchange best practices, share knowledge and address common management challenges

WORKING GROUPS

Economic – Performance – Communication Innovation – Sludge & Circular Economy – Customer Relations

THEMATIC SESSIONS

Technical meeting open to all members addressing an issue selected by members and featuring presentations by experts from APE members, on projects and best practices

WATER ERASMUS

Bilateral short-term staff exchange between a ‘visiting operator’ and a ‘hosting operator’ on a specific topic of common interest

SEMINARS

Exchanging with stakeholders and institutions

• n common challenges for water resources

management.

4

The outbreak of Covid-19 in Europe

08/03 – National lockdown in Italy 21/02 – First cases in Italy > lockdown in affected towns 02/03 – European Diseases Control Centre shifts level risk from medium to high 08/03 – Big street manifestatio n in Madrid to celebrate women’s day 11/03 – football match Atletico - Liverpool 14/03 – Municipal elections in France 14/03 – National lockdown in Spain 16/03 – National Lockdown in France After 16/03 – borders closing in Europe and progressive lockdown in all other countries

5

Initiatives of APE to support

• perators’ response to Covid-19
• Facilitating direct exchanges among members -
• rganisation of three video-conferences on Covid-19 crisis

management:

• 23/03 – Contingency Plans
• 08/04 – Sludge and wastewater management; monitoring

frequencies; critical supplies

• 06/05 – Recovery Plans
• Collection and circulation of relevant information
• Summary of contingency plans
• Scientific Studies (WHO, national health authorities)
• External Communication and Institutional Relations
• Video on workers’ commitment during crisis
• Sharing communication campaigns on tap water safety
• Instructional dialogue to ensure borders transit of essential

supplies

6

Taking stock…

7

Lessons learnt – Key elements to ensure resilience

• Risk management methodologies in place
• Procedure for Information and data management

(reducing noise, avoiding ‘confusion’)

• IT infrastructure
• Critical supplies’ stocks

8

Looking forward: What implications?

• Evolving customer-operator relation
• Evolving internal work organisation (including

new relation between departments)

• Digitalisation
• Stronger risk management approach
• Economic impact – new financing mechanisms?

THANK YOU !