Project #5093

Understanding the Factors That Affect the Detection and Variability of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater

$299,190
Completed
Principal Investigator
Sunny
Jiang
Research Manager
Mr. Ashwin Dhanasekar
Contractor
University of California At Irvine
Utility Management
Microbes & Pathogens
Water Quality
Monitoring
Sewers

Abstract

Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) represents a promising complement to clinical testing as a means of assessing COVID-19 trends within a community. The objective of this project was to understand how WBS sampling designs impact the quantifiable SARS-CoV-2 genome in both centralized and decentralized wastewater collection and treatment systems. In addition to WRF funds, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation contributed funding to support this project. Published in 2022.