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Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Water Distribution, Sanitation, Waste Management, Decontamination Activities Sector

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Economic Recovery After COVID-19

Abstract

The global problem of mankind, for more than a year, is the epidemic of coronavirus, which forces the authorities to take unprecedented measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 virus. During this period, all sectors of the economy are affected, more or less. In this paper, we aim to analyse the water distribution, sanitation, waste management, decontamination activities before the pandemic (2008?2018), but especially during the pandemic, in order to develop economic and social measures. In order to achieve the objectives, the results of the questionnaire launched online, between May and June 2020, will be analysed.

The elaboration of the set of measures for this economic sector will be carried out taking into account the extraordinarily abrupt dynamics from day to day of the data on the spread of infections, doubled by the actions of the authorities for isolating the population at home and implicitly the severe restriction of economic activities, which makes the set of measures proposed at the end of this paper to give resilience to this economic sector.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

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Correspondence to Florescu Margareta Stela .

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Annex

Annex

1. What category of stakeholders do you belong to?

(a) sanitation service operators

4

1.4%

(b) operators of drinking water distribution services

7

2.4%

(c) population

277

96.2%

 

288

100.0%

2. What do you think about the effectiveness of the waste management system during the Covid-19 pandemic?

(a) not very good

97

33.7%

(b) good

180

62.5%

(c) very good

11

3.8%

 

288

100.0%

3. What do you think of the current price/quality ratio of waste collection services?

(a) large

51

17.7%

(b) medium

219

76.0%

(c) small

18

6.3%

 

288

100.0%

4. Could the differentiation of tariffs for selective waste collection lead to an increase in recycling during the Covid-19 pandemic?

(a) yes, in an insignificant percentage

98

34.0%

(b) no

65

22.6%

(c) yes, in a significant percentage

125

43.4%

 

288

100.0%

5. What do you think is the degree to which the current waste management system ensures the protection of the environment and the health of the population?

(a) low

129

44.8%

(b) medium

140

48.6%

(c) high

19

6.6%

 

288

100.0%

6. Do you consider that the implementation of an integrated waste management system (selective collection, sorting, composting and controlled storage) will contribute to improving the quality of the environment?

(a) yes

263

91.3%

(b) no

10

3.5%

(c) I don't know/I didn't think

15

5.2%

 

288

100.0%

7. Do you consider that the sanitation services in the county will be efficient with the implementation of the new system?

(a) yes

210

72.9%

(b) no

18

6.3%

(c) I don't know/I didn't think

60

20.8%

 

288

100.0%

8. Do you consider that a sustained information campaign among the population is useful for the successful implementation of the integrated waste management system, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic?

(a) yes

246

85.4%

(b) no

18

6.3%

(c) I don't know/I didn't think

24

8.3%

 

288

100.0%

9. If your answer is yes, which institutions do you think should be involved?

(a) Environmental Protection Agency

213

74.0

(b) The school

33

11.5

(c) Environmental Guard

42

14.6

 

288

100

10. How does the Covid-19 pandemic affect the water distribution, sanitation, waste management, decontamination activities sector?

(a) directly by increasing the amount of waste and the high degree of contamination

127

44.1

(b) indirectly, by increasing the tariffs for sanitation services

62

21.5

(c) cumulatively

99

34.4

 

288

100

11. Do you know the content of a River Basin Management Plan?

(a) yes

17

5.9%

(b) no

75

60.8%

(c) I will be interested

96

33.3%

 

288

100.0%

12. What specific measures under a basin management plan do you consider to be a priority during the Covid-19 pandemic?

(a) ecological measures

177

61.5%

(b) social measures

48

16.7%

(c) economic measures

63

21.9%

 

288

100.0%

13. Do you agree with the estimated costs of the water distribution, sanitation, waste management, decontamination activities during the Covid-19 pandemic?

(a) yes

69

24.0%

(b) no

72

25.0%

(c) I don't know

147

51.0%

 

288

100,0%

14. Can you identify other sources of funding for the implementation of additional measures imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic period in the water distribution, sanitation, waste management, decontamination activities?

(a) yes

88

30.6%

(b) no

102

35.4%

(c) in an insignificant percentage

98

34.0%

 

288

100.0%

15. Do you think it is important to be informed and consulted about the additional measures taken during the pandemic in the water distribution, sanitation, waste management, decontamination activities?

(a) yes

252

87.5%

(b) no

12

4.2%

(c) I don't know

24

8.3%

 

288

100.0%

16. Do you consider that there is available and sufficient information for the population during the pandemic related to the analysed sector?

(a) yes

61

21.2%

(b) no

106

36.8%

(c) too little, insignificant

121

42.0%

 

288

100.0%

17. What information methods do you prefer and find most effective for your active involvement in environmental issues during the Covid-19 pandemic?

(a) Website

199

69.1%

(b) brochures/leaflets

33

11.5%

(c) e-mail

56

19.4%

 

288

100.0%

18. What is the respondent's highest level of education?

(a) high school studies

123

42.7%

(b) university studies

112

38.9%

(c) master studies

53

18.4%

 

288

100.0%

19. What is your age?

18–35 years old

251

87.2%

36–50 years

29

10.1%

51–65 years old

7

2.4%

over 65 years

1

0.3%

 

288

100.0%

20. What is your environment of residence?

(a) rural

90

31.3%

(b) urban

194

67.4%

(c) I prefer not to answer

4

1.4%

 

288

100.0%

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Stela, F.M., Floretina, C.R., Lenuta, T.C. (2021). Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Water Distribution, Sanitation, Waste Management, Decontamination Activities Sector. In: Dima, A.M., Anghel, I., Dobrea, R.C. (eds) Economic Recovery After COVID-19. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86641-9_14

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