Scenic Beauty Evaluation of Forests with Autumn-Colored Leaves from Aerial and Ground Perspectives: A Case Study in Qixia Mountain in Nanjing, China

In recent years, on-site visitation has been strictly restricted in many scenic areas due to the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Cloud tourism”, also called online travel, uses high-resolution photographs taken by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as the dominant data source and has attracted much attention. Due to the differences between ground and aerial observation perspectives, the landscape elements that affect the beauty of colored-leaved forests are quite different. In this paper, Qixia National Forest Park in Nanjing, China, was chosen as the case study area, and the best viewpoints were selected by combining tourists' preferred viewing routes with a field survey, followed by a scenic beauty evaluation (SBE) of the forests with autumn-colored leaves in 2021 from the aerial and ground perspectives. The results show that (1) the best viewpoints can be obtained through the spatial overlay of five landscape factors: elevation, surface runoff, slope, aspect, and distance from the road;(2) the dominant factors influencing the beauty of colored-leaved forests from the aerial perspective are terrain changes, forest coverage, landscape composition, landscape contrast, the condition of the human landscape, and recreation frequency;and (3) the beauty of the ground perspective of the colored-leaved forests is strongly influenced by the average diameter at breast height (DBH), the dominant color of the leaves, the ratio of the colored-leaved tree species, the canopy width, and the fallen leaf coverage. The research results can provide scientific reference for the creation of management measures for forests with autumn-colored leaves. © 2023 by the authors.

Effects of Temperature and Water Types on the Decay of Coronavirus: A Review

The analysis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) gene copy numbers in wastewater samples can provide quantitative information on Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) cases within a sewer catchment. However, many wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) studies have neglected virus decay during the wastewater transportation process in sewers while back-calculating COVID-19 prevalence. Among various sewer condition parameters, wastewater temperature and dilution by fresh/saltwater infiltration may result in a significant change to the virus decay, in terms of both infectivity and Ribonucleic Acid (RNA). This paper reviewed the literature to identify and discuss the effects of temperature and water types (i.e., wastewater, freshwater, and seawater) on coronavirus decay based on the decay rate constants that were collected from published papers. To evaluate the importance of virus decay, a sensitivity analysis was then conducted with decay rates of SARS-CoV-2 RNA based on a WBE back-calculation equation. Finally, the decay rates of coronavirus in wastewater were also compared with those of other viruses to further understand the difference among virus species. The decay of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found to be less impacted by temperature variation than viable coronaviruses. Nevertheless, WBE back-calculation was still sensitive to the RNA decay rates increased by warm wastewater (i.e., over 26 °C), which could lead to a two-times higher relative variance in estimated COVID-19 prevalence, considering the wastewater temperature variation between 4 and 37 °C in a sewer catchment with a 12-h hydraulic retention time. Comparatively, the sensitivity of the WBE estimation to the enveloped SARS-CoV-2 was greater than nonenveloped enteric viruses, which were less easily degradable in wastewater. In addition, wastewater dilution by stormwater inflow and accompanied cold weather might alleviate the decay of coronavirus infectivity, thus increasing the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission through wastewater. Overall, this paper aims to better understand the impact of in-sewer processes on coronavirus decay and its potential implications for WBE. The outcome could quantitatively inform WBE and improve awareness of the increased risk of COVID-19 infection via wastewater during heavy rainfall events. Given the identified scarcity of data available for coronavirus decay in salt water or with chemical additions, future research on the fate of SARS-CoV-2 subjected to chemical dosing for sewer or wastewater treatment plant operations is recommended. © 2023 by the authors.

Deployment and training for end-users of a decision support system for water resources planning and operations for Greater Sydney

Management, operations, and planning in water resources management are required to respond to a multitude of challenging problems that may arise due to rapid change in climate conditions, extreme weather events, frequent and unforeseen incidents or on the other hand, long-term structured management decisions. This paper reports on deployment of a decision support system (DSS) for Greater Sydney supply systems known as the CARM Greater Sydney Project. Development and deployment of the DSS tool currently being undertaken by WaterNSW is based on integrated hydrological-hydrodynamic water quality models. The system architecture of the tool is underpinned by a set of baseline catchment models developed using eWater's Source modelling suite. Catchment modelling outputs are then fed into reservoir models as input which are housed in the AEM3D (a 3-Dimensional coupled Hydrodynamic- Aquatic Ecosystem Model) platform;providing a set of base cases to represent the fundamental catchment/lake conditions. Mike Workbench - an application developed by DHI is used as the DSS tool. Building on the baseline model, users can generate multiple scenarios with varying complexity by manipulating different parameters of the tool specific to a problem at a scale and level of complexity suited to the problem and needs of decision makers via Mike Workbench. Users can also compare the outcomes between different scenarios, facilitating the decision making for increasingly complex water resources management issues. An integral part of the project is to roll out a suit of comprehensive training on using this tool to different groups of users/stakeholders tailored by their needs and interest. The training and deployment of the new system were started during COVID shutdowns. The paper will provide an overview of the new system and how training was developed as part of the project and embedded through the deployment of the new DSS tool in a fully on-line mode. The lessons learned include providing training specific to user needs, time for practice and one on one support, but also cover planning and integration of the training throughout the project development and deployment. © Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, HWRS 2022. All rights reserved.

Effects of Antecedent Precipitation Amount and COVID-19 Lockdown on Water Quality along an Urban Gradient

Water quality is affected by multiple spatial and temporal factors, including the surrounding land characteristics, human activities, and antecedent precipitation amounts. However, identifying the relationships between water quality and spatially and temporally varying environmental variables with a machine learning technique in a heterogeneous urban landscape has been understudied. We explore how seasonal and variable precipitation amounts and other small-scale landscape variables affect E. coli, total suspended solids (TSS), nitrogen-nitrate, orthophosphate, lead, and zinc concentrations in Portland, Oregon, USA. Mann-Whitney tests were used to detect differences in water quality between seasons and COVID-19 periods. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to identify the relationship between water quality and explanatory variables. A Random Forest (RF) model was used to predict water quality using antecedent precipitation amounts and landscape variables as inputs. The performance of RF was compared with that of ordinary least squares (OLS). Mann-Whitney tests identified statistically significant differences in all pollutant concentrations (except TSS) between the wet and dry seasons. Nitrate was the only pollutant to display statistically significant reductions in median concentrations (from 1.5 mg/L to 1.04 mg/L) during the COVID-19 lockdown period, likely associated with reduced traffic volumes. Spearman's correlation analysis identified the highest correlation coefficients between one-day precipitation amounts and E. coli, lead, zinc, and TSS concentrations. Road length is positively associated with E. coli and zinc. The Random Forest (RF) model best predicts orthophosphate concentrations (R-2 = 0.58), followed by TSS (R-2 = 0.54) and nitrate (R-2 = 0.46). E. coli was the most difficult to model and had the highest RMSE, MAE, and MAPE values. Overall, the Random Forest model outperformed OLS, as evaluated by RMSE, MAE, MAPE, and R-2. The Random Forest was an effective approach to modeling pollutant concentrations using both categorical seasonal and COVID data along with continuous rain and landscape variables to predict water quality in urban streams. Implementing optimization techniques can further improve the model's performance and allow researchers to use a machine learning approach for water quality modeling.

CLOTTING AND COVID-19: IT IS NOT ALWAYS VTE

SESSION TITLE: COVID-19 Case Report Posters 2 SESSION TYPE: Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/19/2022 12:45 pm - 01:45 pm INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an enveloped positive stranded RNA virus that affects multiple organ systems in the body. COVID-19 venous and thromboembolic events are well documented;however, few reports of arterial thrombosis exist. Arterial embolism is reported to occur in one to five percent of patients. We present a case of a patient who experienced arterial thromboembolism. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old woman with a history of diabetes, hypertension, and recent COVID-19 pneumonia three weeks prior presented to the hospital for lower extremity weakness, paresthesias, and pain in her bilateral lower extremities. Upon examination, she was found to have bilateral cold feet, lack of sensation to toes or plantar aspect of feet, nondopplerable pedal or dorsalis pedis pulses bilaterally, dopplerable femoral pulses bilaterally. A CT angiogram of the abdomen with bilateral runoff revealed distal abdominal aortic and bilateral iliac artery thrombus, thrombus in bilateral runoff arteries. She was evaluated by vascular and started on a heparin drip. She underwent bilateral iliofemoral thromboembolectomy and bilateral iliac stents. Surgery recommended allowing demarcation in the outpatient setting, however, due to intractable pain vascular surgery determined that bilateral below the knee amputations were necessary. She underwent testing for possible hypercoagulable state and was found to have an elevated cardiolipin antibody and lupus anticoagulant (LA) screen positive which are reported in 50% of critically ill COVID-19 patients, though the clinical or pathological value of these results are unclear at this time. DISCUSSION: Several mechanisms for hypercoagulability in COVID-19 infection have been postulated. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binds to host angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) proteins. ACE2 receptors can be found throughout multiple organs and specifically on endothelial cells. ACE2 maintains the endothelial integrity of vessels. Coagulation testing in COVID-19 patients reveal increased prothrombin, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), platelet counts, fibrinogen levels. Increased inflammation and cytokine release lead to a hypercoagulable state. Studies have shown that cardiolipin antibodies and LA positivity are higher in patients with COVID-19 which predispose patients to venous and arterial thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Venous thrombosis is often considered in patients with COVID-19 and clotting complications, however, due to the growing number of case reports regarding arterial thrombosis – arterial complications must be considered in the differential. Further research regarding the mechanism of arterial thrombosis are required to better understand the pathogenesis and develop targeted therapies to prevent occurrence of arterial thrombosis. Reference #1: Cheruiyot I, Kipkorir V, Ngure B, Misiani M, Munguti J, Ogeng'o J. Arterial Thrombosis in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients: A Rapid Systematic Review. Ann Vasc Surg. 2021;70:273-281. doi:10.1016/j.avsg.2020.08.087 Reference #2: Current and novel biomarkers of thrombotic risk in COVID-19: a Consensus Statement from the International COVID-19 Thrombosis Biomarkers Colloquium ;Nature Reviews Cardiology Reference #3: Taha, M., & Samavati, L. (2021). Antiphospholipid antibodies in COVID-19: a meta-analysis and systematic review. RMD open, 7(2), e001580. https://doi.org/10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001580 DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Gretchen Grosch No relevant relationships by Stephanie Link No relevant relationships by Soophia Naydenov No relevant relationships by Tanner Wallen

Accounting for Dilution of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater Samples Using Physico-Chemical Markers

Most sewer networks collect domestic wastewater and a variable proportion of extraneous water, such as rainwater, through surface runoff and industrial discharges. Accounting for wastewater dilution is essential to properly quantify wastewater particle loads, whether these are molecular fragments of SARS-CoV-2, or other substances of interest such as illicit drugs or microplastics. This paper presents a novel method for obtaining real-time estimates of wastewater dilution and total daily volume through wastewater treatment works, namely when flow data is not available or unreliable. The approach considers the levels of several physico-chemical markers (ammonia, electrical conductivity, and orthophosphate) in the wastewater against their dry-weather levels. Using high-resolution data from the national Wastewater Surveillance Programme of Wales, we illustrate how the method is robust to spikes in markers and can recover peaks in wastewater flow measurements that may have been capped by hydraulic relief valves. We show the method proves effective in normalising SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in wastewater samples and discuss other applications for this method, looking at wastewater surveillance as a vital tool to monitor both human and environmental health.

Using Hydrological Concepts and an Artificial Neural Network to Model the Rate for COVID-19 Infections versus Deaths

Models were run to reproduce COVID-19 infections versus deaths in Mexico City. The first model was made using rain runoff concept, emulating rain as number of infections reproducing runoff as number of deaths given as of March 2020. The second consisted of using an artificial neural network (ANN) proposed as an initial condition function to be implemented in the model with delay. These models were applied to fit accumulated confirmed case data, obtaining fit corroborated by coefficient of determination, R2. The R2 value produced by model was 0.0528 in case of infections comparison vs. official deaths reported by the Ministry of Health, 0.0571 for t case of infections vs. modelling using the HEC-HMS tool, and 0.0937 for case of contagion vs. modelling using ANN.

Running a Scientific Conference During Pandemic Times

The October 2020 Virtual Symposium by the International Atmospheric Rivers Conference What: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the science of atmospheric rivers was well served by the organization of a virtual symposium joined by more than 100 researchers. In addition to conveying new science, significant lessons were learned on how to run virtual events. When: 5-9 October 2020 Where: Online. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society is the property of American Meteorological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Six months in the Lhù'ààn Mân' (Kluane Lake) watershed: Autobiographical reflection on the benefits of an extended data collection campaign

Lhù'ààn Mân' is located in the southwest corner of Yukon Territory, tucked into the foot of Kluane Ranges of the St. Elias Mountains. The lake is situated on the traditional territory of the Kluane First Nation, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, and the White River First Nation. The lake and its watershed are culturally significant and provide sources of fresh water, fish, land animals for hunting and trapping, berries, and lumber. Miller is a a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography at the University of Calgary working on an exploratory hydrology research project in the Lhù'ààn Mân' watershed. In May of 2016, Kaskawulsh Glacier retreat redirected the meltwater away from it. The event caused the volume of water to decrease significantly, leaving the areas of the river valley that were previously under water dry. Kaskawulsh Glacier runoff was the largest source of glacial water to the lake until then. By August, its level dropped nearly 2 m and has not refilled. This drastic change over a short time period drew a lot of attention and has raised questions in the academic and local communities about glacially-connected water resources in a changing climate.

Impact of Depuration Plants on Nutrient Levels in the North Adriatic Sea

Macronutrients (nitrogen—N;phosphorus—P;silicon—Si) play a crucial role in ocean surface waters stimulating the planktonic primary production;in fact, their concentrations are fundamental for the evaluation of the trophic status of the water body and eutrophication phenomena. Loads of nutrients into the sea are mainly represented by river runoff and depuration plant outflows. For this purpose, in the framework of the AdSWiM project, “Managed use of treated urban wastewater for the quality of the Adriatic Sea” levels of N-NO3, N-NO2, N-NH4, Si-Si(OH)4, P-PO4 (dissolved inorganic phosphorus—DIP) and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) were determined colorimetrically at two sites in the Gulf of Trieste: Lignano Sabbiadoro and San Giorgio di Nogaro. For each site, during the bathing seasons of 2019 and 2020, a sample from the depuration plant (DP) outflow and another one in the bottom seawater near the discharging pipelines were collected. Results showed a strong dilution effect on nutrient levels passing from DPs to the sea, from one to three orders of magnitude and a low and not harmful concentration in seawater. The outflow composition of the two DPs showed that the main fraction of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) was represented by N-NO3 for Lignano, while in San Giorgio the major contribution came from N-NH4. Concerning phosphorus, Lignano showed a higher content (about 3 times) of P levels than San Giorgio, but a similar percentage composition, DIP:DOP (77:23), compared to the seawater site one DIP:DOP (2:98). Despite the difference between the DPs, no substantial differences were found in the sea sites, demonstrating the negligible effect of the DP outflows in the nutrient levels in the study area.

Pond Water Quality for Livestock in Southwestern Iberian Rangelands

Construction of small ponds that collect and store rainwater to be used for livestock watering has been one of the most widespread adaptive solutions in Iberian rangelands to cope with water scarcity, a problem that has become particularly relevant in recent decades due to the progressive increase in livestock density on farms. However, watering ponds can also be a source of health problems due to the consumption of low-quality water by livestock. In this study, we analyzed the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of water from a set of watering ponds located in Iberian rangelands and evaluated its suitability for livestock consumption by comparing the analytical results with internationally recognized water standards for livestock. In addition, seasonal and spatial variations in pond water quality and the influence of some physical and managerial factors were assessed by multivariate statistical analysis. Results showed a high seasonality in pond water composition. The quality of pond water was sufficient to be used for livestock during the rainy season, but high bacterial pollution of fecal origin was evidenced at the end of the dry season in many ponds, with consequent risk for animal health. Dilution by rainwater and evapo-concentration processes were the main mechanisms that determined the concentrations of contaminants in pond water, while livestock density did not seem to have a significant influence. We propose some strategies, such as diversification in water supply sources and regular water quality testing, that farmers could adopt to deal with the detected water quality problems.

Fate of microfibres from single-use face masks: Release to the environment and removal during wastewater treatment.

Single-use face masks can release microfibres upon exposure to environmental conditions. This study investigates the number of microfibres released in the presence and absence of UV irradiation and mechanical friction and the removal of the released microfibres in a simulated conventional wastewater treatment process. UV exposure results in a four-fold increase in the number of microfibres released from new masks and used masks resulting in ~2400 microfibres/mask and ~1100 microfibres/mask, respectively. Application of mechanical friction to the UV-exposed new and used masks further increases the number of released microfibres per mask. In a simulated coagulation/flocculation process, the removals of microfibers originating from new masks and used masks are 79% and 91%, respectively. XPS analysis reveals that the silica content of the used masks is 240% higher than that of new masks, which could explain the higher removal efficiency of microfibers from used masks. FTIR analysis of the masks after UV exposure shows carbonyl indices of 0.73 ± 0.70 and 0.27 ± 0.10 for the microfibres from used and new masks, respectively. Based on available data, we estimate that 4-47 million polypropylene microfibres can be released into natural waters per day after wastewater treatment in an urban environment (for a population of 4300 persons/km2).

Effect of agroforestry on community wellbeing in Kyannamukaaka Sub County, Masaka

Community wellbeing is dependent on agroforestry, which provides social, economic, health and ecological benefits for man, and has proved essential in the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper purposely examines the effect of agroforestry on community wellbeing with a focus on the benefits of tree-crop interactions on community's wellbeing, and limitations to adoption of tree-crop interactions in Kyanamukaaka Sub County. The paper employs a cross-sectional survey design using qualitative data collection approaches. The paper targets 35 farmers from which 32 practicing in tree-crop interactions were determined by Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table. Respondents were purposely selected and participated in the study. Data was collected through interview, observation and documentary review. Later, it was organized, transcribed and triangulated to develop themes for interpretation, analysis and discussion. Results indicate that tree-crop interactions offer socioeconomic [food (96.9%), local herbs (100%), fodder (52.6%), raw material (62.5%), firewood and income (90.6%), employment (37.5%) and ecological (conserves soil fertility and moisture conservation (50%)), controls soil erosion runoff (59.4%), protect soil health (28.1%) and act as habitats organisms (34.4%)] benefits. Furthermore, other themes included;climate change (84.4%), land size and ownership (90.6%), inadequate competences (50%) anthropocentrism (56.2%), poor quality and high costs of farm inputs (96.9%) and diseases (93.7%) as limitations to adoption of tree-crop interactions. The paper concludes that tree-crop interactions were of benefit to the community. However, observations show that some households had no trees while the others cut trees unsustainably on their farmlands. Therefore, to increase adoption of tree-crop interactions and diversity, Kyannamukaaka Sub County and Masaka District should create awareness and build farmers' capacity in climate change resilience, underground forestry management, tree growing and energy efficient technologies.

Toward the Sustainable Use of Groundwater Springs: A Case Study from Namibia

The water supply in drylands mainly relies on groundwater, making it a crucial resource. Springs in southern Africa are often underutilized, and are neither protected nor monitored. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate their quality in a sample area in northwestern Namibia and to propose solutions for the sustainable use of springs. In total, 35 springs and hot springs were evaluated in the study area located in the drier part of Namibia (Pmean = 150–400 mm/year), an area highly impacted by ongoing climate change with longer and more frequent drought seasons. The springs there are mostly uncaptured and the discharge is in the form of surface runoff, which is mainly lost to the atmosphere by evaporation. Most of the studied springs were perennial, despite a severe drought period. Local communities rely on the springs mainly for livestock and human consumption, as well as for irrigation. However, 71% of the springs do not have any protective measures. The temperature, pH, conductivity and alkalinity were tested in situ. In total, 20 samples were collected and analyzed for major ions (boron, fluoride, silica and strontium) and total dissolved solids (TDS). The physical and inorganic results mostly indicated good and excellent quality water for human consumption, while the hot springs tended to have poor water quality in terms of Namibian standards, indicating that the water was not fit for human consumption.

Greening Urban Areas with Decentralized Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: A Case Study of Ecoparque in Tijuana, Mexico

In rapidly growing urban areas, such as Tijuana, Mexico, the presence of urban green spaces (UGSs) can help stem soil erosion, improve infiltration, slow runoff, decrease flooding, reduce air pollution, and mitigate climate change. In many water-scarce parts of the world, where centralized wastewater treatment is not accessible or practical, decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DEWATSs) have the potential to supply the water needed for irrigating UGSs. Here, we first review UGS systems supported by DEWATSs and the water quality guidelines and challenges associated with implementing DEWATSs for urban greening in different countries, including Mexico. We also critically examine the linkages between the lack of UGSs in Tijuana, Mexico, extensive soil erosion, and failing sanitation infrastructure that has led to the infamously poor water quality in the Tijuana River. Tijuana’s Ecoparque Wastewater Treatment Facility, a low-energy, aerobic DEWATS, which collects, treats, and discharges residential sewage for localized landscape irrigation, demonstrates how DEWATSs can meet the water demands for urban greening in rapidly urbanizing cities. The aerobic decentralized treatment using a gravity-fed trickling biofilter resulted in a >85% removal of chemical oxygen demand and dissolved organic carbon. Prior to treatment facility upgrades, there was a ~2 log reduction in total coliform and Escherichia coli and a <20% decrease in ammonia from the influent to final effluent. After the addition of a maturation pond in 2020, the effluent met Mexico standards for irrigation reuse, with a ~4 log reduction in fecal coliforms from the influent to final effluent. Case study results demonstrated the potential for decentralized wastewater treatment to meet effluent standards for landscape irrigation, provide water for urban greening, and prevent pollution in the Tijuana River and other urban waterways.

Recovery of Degraded Areas through Technosols and Mineral Nanoparticles: A Review

Anthropogenic sources such as urban and agricultural runoff, fossil fuel combustion, domestic and industrial wastewater effluents, and atmospheric deposition generate large volumes of nutrient-rich organic and inorganic waste. In their original state under subsurface conditions, they can be inert and thermodynamically stable, although when some of their components are exposed to surface conditions, they undergo great physicochemical and mineralogical transformations, thereby mobilizing their constituents, which often end up contaminating the environment. These residues can be used in the production of technosols as agricultural inputs and the recovery of degraded areas. Technosol is defined as artificial soil made from organic and inorganic waste, capable of performing environmental and productive functions in a similar way to natural ones. This study presents results of international research on the use of technosol to increase soil fertility levels and recover degraded areas in some countries. The conclusions of the various studies served to expand the field of applicability of this line of research on technosols in contaminated spaces. The review indicated very promising results that support the sustainability of our ecosystem, and the improvement achieved with this procedure in soils is comparable to the hybridization and selection of plants that agriculture has performed for centuries to obtain better harvests. Thus, the use of a technosol presupposes a much faster recovery without the need for any other type of intervention.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in urban stormwater: An environmental reservoir and potential interface between human and animal sources.

While wastewater has been found to harbor SARS-CoV-2, the persistence of SARSCoV-2 in stormwater and potential transmission is poorly understood. It is plausible that the virus is detectable in stormwater samples where human-originated fecal contamination may have occurred from sources like sanitary sewer overflows, leaky wastewater pipes, and non-human animal waste. Because of these potential contamination pathways, it is possible that stormwater could serve as an environmental reservoir and transmission pathway for SARS-CoV-2. The objectives of this study are: 1) determine whether the presence of SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in stormwater via RT-ddPCR (reverse transcription-digital droplet PCR); 2) quantify human-specific fecal contamination using microbial source tracking; and 3) examine whether rainfall characteristics influence virus concentrations. To accomplish these objectives, we investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 could be detected from 10 storm sewer outfalls each draining a single, dominant land use in Columbus, Xenia, and Springboro, Ohio. Of the 25 samples collected in 2020, at minimum one SARS-CoV-2 target gene (N2 [US-CDC and CN-CDC], and E) was detected in 22 samples (88%). A single significant correlation (p = 0.001), between antecedent dry period and the USCDC N2 gene, was found between target gene concentrations and rainfall characteristics. Grouped by city, two significant relationships emerged showing cities had different levels of the SARS-CoV-2 E gene. Given the differences in scale, the county-level COVID-19 confirmed cases COVID-19 rates were not significantly correlated with stormwater outfall-scale SARS-CoV-2 gene concentrations. Countywide COVID-19 data did not accurately portray neighborhood-scale confirmed COVID-19 case rates. Potential hazards may arise when human fecal contamination is present in stormwater and facilitates future investigation on the threat of viral outbreaks via surfaces waters where fecal contamination may have occurred. Future studies should investigate whether humans are able to contract SARS-CoV-2 from surface waters and the factors that may affect viral longevity and transmission.

SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens could be determined in liquid samples from soils.

In the current COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has been quantified in wastewater in various countries, and wastewater based epidemiology has been proposed as a potential early warning tool for new outbreaks. However, even taking into account that poorly treated wastewater and sewage sludge may be spread on soils, there is no published paper dealing with the quantification of the virus in soil-related liquid samples, as could be runoff, leachates, or soil solution. To fill this gap, the authors of this piece propose reflections on the development of a methodological approach for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 (and eventually other pathogens) in soil-related liquid samples.