IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i3p1482-d736033.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Resilience and Sustainability of the Water Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Jacqueline Goldin

    (Centre of UNESCO Chair in Groundwater, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of the Western Cape (UWC), Bellville 7535, South Africa)

  • Luxon Nhamo

    (Water Research Commission of South Africa, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa)

  • Bongani Ncube

    (Centre for Water and Sanitation Research, Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Bellville 7535, South Africa)

  • John Ngoni Zvimba

    (Water Research Commission of South Africa, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa)

  • Brilliant Petja

    (Water Research Commission of South Africa, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa)

  • Sylvester Mpandeli

    (Water Research Commission of South Africa, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa
    Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Agriculture, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa)

  • Wandile Nomquphu

    (Water Research Commission of South Africa, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa)

  • Samkelisiwe Hlophe-Ginindza

    (Water Research Commission of South Africa, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa)

  • Mariska Riana Greeff-Laubscher

    (Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University (NWU), Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa)

  • Virginia Molose

    (Water Research Commission of South Africa, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa)

  • Shenelle Lottering

    (Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa)

  • Stanley Liphadzi

    (Water Research Commission of South Africa, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, South Africa
    Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Agriculture, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa)

  • Dhesigen Naidoo

    (Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University (NWU), Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa)

  • Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi

    (Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University (NWU), Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
    International Water Management Institute (IWMI-GH), West Africa Office, PMB CT 112 Cantonments, Accra GA015, Ghana)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented socio-economic changes, ushering in a “new (ab)normal” way of living and human interaction. The water sector was not spared from the effects of the pandemic, a period in which the sector had to adapt rapidly and continue providing innovative water and sanitation solutions. This study unpacks and interrogates approaches, products, and services adopted by the water sector in response to the unprecedented lockdowns, heralding novel terrains, and fundamental paradigm shifts, both at the community and the workplace. The study highlights the wider societal perspective regarding the water and sanitation challenges that grappled society before, during, after, and beyond the pandemic. The premise is to provide plausible transitional pathways towards a new (ab)normal in adopting new models, as evidenced by the dismantling of the normal way of conducting business at the workplace and human interaction in an era inundated with social media, virtual communication, and disruptive technologies, which have transitioned absolutely everything into a virtual way of life. As such, the novel approaches have fast-tracked a transition into the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), with significant trade-offs to traditional business models and human interactions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacqueline Goldin & Luxon Nhamo & Bongani Ncube & John Ngoni Zvimba & Brilliant Petja & Sylvester Mpandeli & Wandile Nomquphu & Samkelisiwe Hlophe-Ginindza & Mariska Riana Greeff-Laubscher & Virginia , 2022. "Resilience and Sustainability of the Water Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1482-:d:736033
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/3/1482/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/3/1482/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nhamo, L. & Mabhaudhi, T. & Mpandeli, S. & Dickens, Chris & Nhemachena, C. & Senzanje, A. & Naidoo, D. & Liphadzi, S. & Modi, A. T., 2020. "An integrative analytical model for the water-energy-food nexus: South Africa case study," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 109:15-124..
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Walker, Nathan L. & Styles, David & Williams, A. Prysor, 2023. "Water sector resilience in the United Kingdom and Ireland: The COVID-19 challenge," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    2. Jorge Alejandro Silva, 2022. "Implementation and Integration of Sustainability in the Water Industry: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-28, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Naidoo, Dhesigen & Nhamo, Luxon & Mpandeli, Sylvester & Sobratee, Nafisa & Senzanje, Aidan & Liphadzi, Stanley & Slotow, Rob & Jacobson, Michael & Modi, Albert T. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe, 2021. "Operationalising the water-energy-food nexus through the theory of change," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    2. Omolola M. Adeola & Abel Ramoelo & Brian Mantlana & Oscar Mokotedi & Wongalethu Silwana & Philemon Tsele, 2022. "Review of Publications on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Climate Change Adaptation Using Bibliometric Analysis: A Case Study of Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Seul-gi Lee & Bashir Adelodun & Mirza Junaid Ahmad & Kyung Sook Choi, 2022. "Multi-Level Prioritization Analysis of Water Governance Components to Improve Agricultural Water-Saving Policy: A Case Study from Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Ousmane Seidou & Claudia Ringler & Spela Kalcic & Luca Ferrini & Traoré Abdou Ramani & Abdou Guero, 2021. "A semi-qualitative approach to the operationalization of the Food–Environment–Energy–Water (FE2W) Nexus concept for infrastructure planning: a case study of the Niger Basin," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(5), pages 744-770, July.
    5. Nhamo, L. & Mpandeli, S. & Liphadzi, S. & Hlophe-Ginindza, S. & Kapari, M. & Molwantwa, J. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe, 2023. "Advances in water research: enhancing sustainable water use in irrigated agriculture in South Africa," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.
    6. Magidi, J. & van Koppen, Barbara & Nhamo, L. & Mpandeli, S. & Slotow, R. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe, 2021. "Informing equitable water and food policies through accurate spatial information on irrigated areas in smallholder farming systems," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-13(24):36.
    7. Misrol, Mohd Arif & Wan Alwi, Sharifah Rafidah & Lim, Jeng Shiun & Abd Manan, Zainuddin, 2021. "Optimization of energy-water-waste nexus at district level: A techno-economic approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    8. Goldin, J. & Nhamo, L. & Ncube, B. & Zvimba, J. N. & Petja, B. & Mpandeli, S. & Nomquphu, W. & Hlophe-Ginindza, S. & Greeff-Laubscher, M. R. & Molose, V. & Lottering, S. & Liphadzi, S. & Naidoo, D. & , 2022. "Resilience and sustainability of the water sector during the COVID-19 pandemic," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-14(3):148.
    9. Luxon Nhamo & Sylvester Mpandeli & Stanley Liphadzi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2022. "Securing Land and Water for Food Production through Sustainable Land Reform: A Nexus Planning Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-15, June.
    10. Hong Li & Li Shi & Kuo-Hsun Wen, 2024. "Design-Driven Sustainable Poverty Alleviation: A Case Study of Precise Identification and Resource Optimization in Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Sylvester Mpandeli & Luxon Nhamo & Sithabile Hlahla & Dhesigen Naidoo & Stanley Liphadzi & Albert Thembinkosi Modi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2020. "Migration under Climate Change in Southern Africa: A Nexus Planning Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-14, June.
    12. Dhesigen Naidoo & Luxon Nhamo & Shenelle Lottering & Sylvester Mpandeli & Stanley Liphadzi & Albert T. Modi & Cristina Trois & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2021. "Transitional Pathways towards Achieving a Circular Economy in the Water, Energy, and Food Sectors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-16, September.
    13. Luxon Nhamo & Bekithemba Ndlela & Sylvester Mpandeli & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2020. "The Water-Energy-Food Nexus as an Adaptation Strategy for Achieving Sustainable Livelihoods at a Local Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    14. Phemelo Tamasiga & Malesela Molala & Malebogo Bakwena & Hugue Nkoutchou & Helen Onyeaka, 2023. "Is Africa Left behind in the Global Climate Finance Architecture: Redefining Climate Vulnerability and Revamping the Climate Finance Landscape—A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-26, August.
    15. Hubert Hirwa & Qiuying Zhang & Yunfeng Qiao & Yu Peng & Peifang Leng & Chao Tian & Sayidjakhon Khasanov & Fadong Li & Alphonse Kayiranga & Fabien Muhirwa & Auguste Cesar Itangishaka & Gabriel Habiyare, 2021. "Insights on Water and Climate Change in the Greater Horn of Africa: Connecting Virtual Water and Water-Energy-Food-Biodiversity-Health Nexus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, June.
    16. Mohammed Sakib Uddin & Khaled Mahmud & Bijoy Mitra & Al-Ekram Elahee Hridoy & Syed Masiur Rahman & Md Shafiullah & Md. Shafiul Alam & Md. Ismail Hossain & Mohammad Sujauddin, 2023. "Coupling Nexus and Circular Economy to Decouple Carbon Emissions from Economic Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    17. Simpson, G. B. & Jewitt, G. P. W. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe & Taguta, C. & Badenhorst, J., 2023. "An African perspective on the water-energy-food nexus," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-13:16842..
    18. Giuseppe Rossi & David J. Peres, 2023. "Climatic and Other Global Changes as Current Challenges in Improving Water Systems Management: Lessons from the Case of Italy," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(6), pages 2387-2402, May.
    19. Nguyen Mai Dang & Le Ngoc Vien & Ahad Hasan Tanim & Alexandre S. Gagnon & Duong Tran Anh, 2024. "A Framework Using Applied Process Analysis Methods to Assess Water Security in the Vu Gia–Thu Bon River Basin, Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-23, July.
    20. Luxon Nhamo & Sylvester Mpandeli & Stanley Liphadzi & Tinashe Lindel Dirwai & Hillary Mugiyo & Aidan Senzanje & Bruce A Lankford & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2024. "Why Do Farmers Not Irrigate All the Areas Equipped for Irrigation? Lessons from Southern Africa," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1482-:d:736033. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.