Its also been used to track opioid use in a population. Its much more prevalent outside the US. I heard from an ASCE member Turkey is exploring using wastewater surveillance for Covid-19 tracking. There is a slew of research efforts going on in the US, EPA in Cincinnati, groups out of Arizona State and Michigan State, various WWTP's and several for profit companies. Just read Block Island RI is looking into it being a very isolated community. There are deep discussion going on about the roll WWTP's play in Public Health outside of their normal function. They are not Departments of Health nor the CDC and costs, liabilities and sharing data with the public are challenges. But perhaps the US can figure out how this science can potentially can fit into the public health program.
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Gregory Scott P.E., F.ASCE
SENIOR ENGINEER
CDM Smith
Pittsburgh PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-06-2020 07:45 AM
From: Michael Devuono
Subject: Tracking Coronavirus in Wastewater
Definitely not new. We've been doing similar things for years for diseases such as small pox, polio, SARS, etc.
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Michael Devuono P.E., M.ASCE
Senior Water Engineer
Arcadis U.S., Inc.
Philadelphia PA
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