Integrated Modelling to Support Analysis of COVID-19 Impacts on London's Water System and In-river Water Quality

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens of United Kingdom were required stay at home for many months in 2020. In weeks before and following lockdown, including when it was not being enforced, advised where possible. As a result, megacity such as London, long-distance commuting is common, spatial temporal changes patterns water demand are inevitable. This, turn, may change people's waste treated ultimately impact in-river quality effluent receiving waters. To assess large scale impacts, COVID-19, city scale, an integrated modelling approach that captures everything between households rivers needed. A framework achieve this presented study used explore use associated impacts on wastewater treatment result government societal responses COVID-19. Our results revealed significant household consumption under range scenarios, however, they only showed pollutant concentrations central London. Pollutant simulated by model most sensitive tributaries River Thames, highlighting vulnerability smaller important role play diluting pollution. Modelled ammonia phosphates found be pollutants because their main source urban domestic significantly altered during imposed mobility restrictions. evaluation we can accurately validate individual components (i.e., generator) emphasised need continuous measurements. Ultimatly, work provides basis further developments systems integration approaches project never-before seen scenarios.