International WhatsApp group of utilities shares tips and swells to 180 members

An international WhatsApp group of utilities formed to share knowledge during the Covid-19 pandemic has grown from ten to 180 organisations and according to its founder its membership is continuing to increase.

The organisers of the group at consultancy, Isle Utilities, curate the information and share the key findings each week in a webinar hosted by Isle’s founder and chairman, Dr Piers Clark. Isle said more than 350 people were currently taking part in the weekly Covid-19 Update webinars.

Clark lists municipality water safety plans; contamination and reuse of personal protective equipment; asset management; and the impact of changes in demand on models for water network management as examples of issues arising in the webinars to date.

“There has been a lot of interest in research recently completed in the Netherlands to monitor the virus in communities via wastewater samples,” Clark said. “More recently people are asking about modelling of the financial impacts on organisations and changes in the way rates are charged and collected,’ he added.

The Covid-19 Update takes place twice on Thursday to accommodate global time differences – at 7.30 and 16.30 BST. The webinars are “open to all.” To register go to www.isleutilities.com/events or email Piers.clark@isleutilities.com.