This Friday we were startled with the news that researchers have detected SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater of Barcelona on March 12, 2019. A revelation that has caused a true media storm worldwide, by calling into question many of those considered "certainties" about the origin of the virus and its spread.
Increasingly, there is a perception in governments and society that the analysis of wastewater can become one of the most important "sentinels" in controlling the circulation of the virus in the population. Especially considering the large number of asymptomatic patients who transmit it. There are already countless projects being launched throughout the planet, and the hopes of creating early warning systems in treatment plants are increasing.
This opportunity can be a true "game changer" for the water treatment sector, historically unknown and undervalued by public opinion. If WWTPs, thanks to the boom in the circular economy, were already becoming biofactories in which to generate high-quality resources from waste, they can now also be established as key tools in public health systems.
This is one more element for optimism about the water industry. In previous weeks we emphasized its attractiveness as a refuge in times of economic storms, as well as the commitment of different governments to invest in infrastructure as the engine of economic recovery. To these potentialities, we must now add the health vector, and thus form a cocktail with great appeal for decision makers. It is time to focus on and invest in the water sector.
