The Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Concentration in the Presence of Sewer Biofilms

Wastewater surveillance has been widely used to track the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in communities. Although some studies have investigated the decay of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, understanding about its fate during wastewater transport in real sewers is still limited. This study aims to assess the impact of sewer biofilms on the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration in naturally contaminated real wastewater (raw influent wastewater without extra SARS-CoV-2 virus/gene seeding) using a simulated laboratory-scale sewer system. The results indicated that, with the sewer biofilms, a 90% concentration reduction of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed within 2 h both in wastewater of gravity (GS, gravity-driven sewers) and rising main (RM, pressurized sewers) sewer reactors. In contrast, the 90% reduction time was 8–26 h in control reactors without biofilms. The concentration reduction of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater was significantly more in the presence of sewer biofilms. In addition, an accumulation of c.a. 260 and 110 genome copies/cm2 of the SARS-CoV-2 E gene was observed in the sewer biofilm samples from RM and GS reactors within 12 h, respectively. These results confirmed that the in-sewer concentration reduction of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater was likely caused by the partition to sewer biofilms. The need to investigate the in-sewer dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, such as the variation of RNA concentration in influent wastewater caused by biofilm attachment and detachment, was highlighted by the significantly enhanced reduction rate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater of sewer biofilm reactors and the accumulation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewer biofilms. Further research should be conducted to investigate the in-sewer transportation of SARS-CoV-2 and their RNA and evaluate the role of sewer biofilms in leading to underestimates of COVID-19 prevalence in communities.

Modular Processes and Facilities Enable Flexible Vaccine Manufacturing

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for modular designs to rapidly expand vaccine production capacity. Speed to market An established benefit of modular facilities is that they are constructed off-site and then delivered to the site where they will be put into use. CRB's SlateXpace was introduced in September 2020 as a "suitebased" modular facility design for cell and gene therapy. Modular systems enable the manufacturer to produce regionally on the required scale and thus to react flexibly to the current situation and local requirements," says Kappeler.

Stability and WBE biomarkers possibility of 17 antiviral drugs in sewage and gravity sewers.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a promising technique for monitoring the rapidly increasing use of antiviral drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential to evaluate the in-sewer stability of antiviral drugs in order to determine appropriate biomarkers. This study developed an analytical method for quantification of 17 typical antiviral drugs, and investigated the stability of target compounds in sewer through 4 laboratory-scale gravity sewer reactors. Nine antiviral drugs (lamivudine, acyclovir, amantadine, favipiravir, nevirapine, oseltamivir, ganciclovir, emtricitabine and telbivudine) were observed to be stable and recommended as appropriate biomarkers for WBE. As for the other 8 unstable drugs (abacavir, arbidol, ribavirin, zidovudine, ritonavir, lopinavir, remdesivir and efavirenz), their attenuation was driven by adsorption, biodegradation and diffusion. Moreover, reaction kinetics revealed that the effects of sediments and biofilms were regarded to be independent in gravity sewers, and the rate constants of removal by biofilms was directly proportional to the ratio of surface area against wastewater volume. The study highlighted the potential importance of flow velocity for compound stability, since an increased flow velocity significantly accelerated the removal of unstable biomarkers. In addition, a framework for graded evaluation of biomarker stability was proposed to provide reference for researchers to select suitable WBE biomarkers. Compared with current classification method, this framework considered the influences of residence time and different removal mechanisms, which additionally screened four antiviral drugs as viable WBE biomarkers. This is the first study to report the stability of antiviral drugs in gravity sewers.

Public Awareness of and Support for the Use of Wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 Monitoring: A Community Survey in Louisville, Kentucky

The majority of sewer systems in the United States and other countries are operated by public utilities. In the absence of any regulation, the public perception of wastewater monitoring for population health biomarkers is an important consideration for a public utility commission when allocating resources for this purpose. We conducted a survey in August 2021 as part of an ongoing COVID-19 community prevalence study in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY, US. The survey comprised seven questions about wastewater awareness and privacy concerns and was sent to approximately 35 000 households randomly distributed within the county. A total of 1220 adults were involved in the probability sample, and data from 981 respondents were used in the analysis. A total of 2444 adults additionally responded to the convenience sample, and data from 1751 respondents were used in the analysis. The samples were weighted to obtain estimates representative of all adults in the county. Public awareness of tracking the virus that causes COVID-19 in sewers was low. Opinions strongly support the public disclosure of monitoring results. Responses showed that people more strongly supported measurements in the largest areas (>50 000 households), typically representing population levels found in a large community wastewater treatment plant. Those with a history of COVID-19 infection were more likely to support highly localized monitoring. Understanding wastewater surveillance strategies and privacy concern thresholds requires an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of public opinion for continued success and effective public health monitoring.

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.

SOCIOECONOMIC BIASES: ANALYSIS OF POPULAR PERCEPTION ABOUT SANITARY SEWAGE SERVICES IN PERNAMBUCO

Objetivo: Este artigo objetivou realizar um levantamento sobre o saber popular acerca do serviço de esgotamento sanitário em municípios do estado de Pernambuco. Referencial teórico: Correspondeu a buscas na literatura científica, na legislação e em normas e dados técnicos de pesquisa social e de saneamento básico. Método: Devido à pandemia da Covid-19, a pesquisa foi feita de forma virtual, com o compartilhamento de um questionário eletrônico via mensagens de e-mail e de WhatsApp. Foi realizado o cruzamento das respostas da pesquisa com a qualificação dos participantes segundo os parâmetros do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Os dados foram confrontados com normativas e pesquisas científicas existentes sobre o tema. Resultados e conclusão: Foram consideradas as respostas de 251 participantes. Apesar de apenas nove terem formação acadêmica até o Ensino Fundamental, sendo esses moradores de bairros de baixa renda, observou-se que esse foi o grupo que mais lida com os problemas decorrentes da falta de saneamento básico, mais especificamente o esgotamento sanitário. Com isso, foi possível apontar as populações de comunidades mais carentes como o público mais prejudicado pelos problemas causados pela inexistência do sistema de esgotamento sanitário. Por fim, foram formuladas estratégias resolutivas para os problemas ora identificados. Implicações da pesquisa: Foi evidenciado que a participação social na formulação e na execução de serviços fundamentais à população como o saneamento básico é de suma importância para a sua eficácia. Originalidade/valor: Contribui, principalmente, no tocante à proposição de iniciativas estratégicas para a resolução das problemáticas decorrentes do mau funcionamento e/ou uso dos serviços de saneamento básico.Alternate abstract:Purpose: This article aimed to know the popular knowledge about sanitary sewage in relation to the socioeconomic profile of the participants. Theoretical framework: Corresponds to searches in scientific literature, legislation and standards and technical data on social research and basic sanitation. Method/design/approach: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the survey was carried out virtually, with the sharing of an electronic questionnaire via email and WhatsApp messages. The survey responses were crossed with the qualifications of the participants according to the parameters of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data were confronted with regulations and existing scientific research on the subject. Results and conclusion: The responses of 251 participants were considered. Although only nine had academic training up to Elementary School, these being residents of low-income neighbourhoods, it was observed that this was the group that most deals with the problems arising from the lack of basic sanitation, more specifically sanitary sewage. With this, it was possible to point out the populations of the poorest communities as the public most affected by the problems caused by the lack of a sanitary sewage system. Finally, resolving strategies were formulated for the problems now identified. Research implications: It mainly contributes with regard to the proposition of strategic initiatives to solve problems arising from the malfunction and/or use of basic sanitation services. Originality/value: It mainly contributes with regard to the proposition of strategic initiatives to solve problems arising from the malfunction and/or use of basic sanitation services.

Moving forward with COVID-19: Future research prospects of wastewater-based epidemiology methodologies and applications.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been demonstrated for its great potential in tracking of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission among populations despite some inherent methodological limitations. These include non-optimized sampling approaches and analytical methods; stability of viruses in sewer systems; partitioning/retention in biofilms; and the singular and inaccurate back-calculation step to predict the number of infected individuals in the community. Future research is expected to (1) standardize best practices in wastewater sampling, analysis and data reporting protocols for the sensitive and reproducible detection of viruses in wastewater; (2) understand the in-sewer viral stability and partitioning under the impacts of dynamic wastewater flow, properties, chemicals, biofilms and sediments; and (3) achieve smart wastewater surveillance with artificial intelligence and big data models. Further specific research is essential in the monitoring of other viral pathogens with pandemic potential and subcatchment applications to maximize the benefits of WBE beyond COVID-19.

Implications of Design Assumptions for Pressure Sewer Network Performance: A New Zealand Study

Pressure sewer networks offer a flexible alternative to more traditional gravity-based systems for the conveyance of wastewater. Some of the issues associated with pressure sewer networks (e.g., odor, septicity) arise from inappropriate design assumptions. Daily inflow volumes are a crucial part of the design of pressure sewer systems;gravity design parameters are presently used to design pressure sewer networks in New Zealand. This study analyzed flow data from six representative pressure sewer networks (approximately 24% of operating pump units in New Zealand) to identify the daily inflow volumes per connected pump unit. The results indicated that the median inflow volume was approximately 410 L/pump unit/day. This inflow is much lower than current council design standard assumptions, which range from 650 to 1,000 L/pump unit/day. Pressure sewer network designs using higher daily loading rates may result in oversized networks that are detrimental to the network's operation and performance, especially for meeting minimum self-cleansing velocities and wastewater retention times. The data collection period included the first COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand. Four lockdown levels were introduced, with Level 4 and Level 3 being the most restrictive and requiring all but essential workers to stay and work from home. Levels 1 and 2 allowed people to return to their place of work. The data indicated that the Level 4 lockdown period caused a 25% increase in daily inflow volumes. In comparison, the Level 3 and 2 lockdown periods increased the daily inflow volumes by 20% and 15%, respectively. The analysis also included the networks' wet-weather responses. Minor rain events did not significantly affect the daily inflow volumes. However, gravity networks that have been retrofitted with pressure sewer networks may be more subject to aging or damaged laterals and illegal stormwater connections, both of which are likely to result in a more significant wet-weather response. The paper also discusses the issues associated with an overreliance on standardized design methods without understanding their proper application and the pitfalls of adopting gravity sewer design assumptions for pressure sewer network designs. The findings of this paper will further allow determination of the sensitivity of network design outcomes, performance, and maintenance requirements to the design methods and assumptions for pressure sewer networks, not only in New Zealand but in any country that uses the technology. © 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Solar desalination/purification (solar stills, humidification-dehumidification, solar disinfection) in high altitude during COVID19: Insights of gastrointestinal manifestations and systems' mechanism.

From the starting of the pandemic different transmission routes of the pathogen was brought into the spotlight by researchers from different disciplines. This matter in high-altitudes was more boosted as the main parameters were not exactly realized. In this review we are about to highlight the possibility of consuming contaminated water generated form solar water desalination/disinfection systems in highlands. Three systems including solar still, solar disinfection (which experimented by the authors in 2019 in high altitude) and humidification-dehumidification were consider in this context. Ascribe to the risks of pathogens transmission in solar desalination/disinfection systems where the water resources are heavily polluted in every corner of the world, highlighting the risk of consuming water in high-altitude where there are many other parameters associated with spread of pathogen is of great importance. As it was reported, reliability of solar desalination and solar water disinfections systems against contaminated water by the novel coronavirus remained on the question because the virus can be transmitted by vapor in solar stills due to tiny particle size (60-140 nm) and would not be killed by solar disinfections due to low-temperature of operation <40 °C while for HDH contamination of both water and air by sars-cov-2 could be a concern. Although the SARS-CoV-2 is not a waterborne pathogen, its capability to replicate in stomach and infection of gastrointestinal glandular suggested the potential of transmission via fecal-oral. Eventually, it was concluded that using solar-based water treatment as drinking water in high altitude regions should be cautiously consider and recommendations and considerations are presented. Importantly, this critical review not only about the ongoing pandemic, but it aims is to highlight the importance of produced drinking water by systems for future epidemic/pandemic to prevent spread and entering a pathogen particularly in high-altitude regions via a new routes.

Evaluating the transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 from sewage pollution.

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in untreated sewage has been confirmed in many countries but its incidence and infection risk in contaminated waters is poorly understood. The River Thames in the UK receives untreated sewage from 57 Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), with many discharging dozens of times per year. This study investigated if such discharges provide a pathway for environmental transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Samples of wastewater, surface water, and sediment collected close to six CSOs on the River Thames were assayed over eight months for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and infectious virus. Bivalves were also sampled as an indicator species of viral bioaccumulation. Sediment and water samples from the Danube and Sava rivers in Serbia, where raw sewage is also discharged in high volumes, were assayed as a positive control. No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or infectious virus was found in UK samples, in contrast to RNA positive samples from Serbia. Furthermore, this study shows that infectious SARS-CoV-2 inoculum is stable in Thames water and sediment for <3 days, while SARS-CoV-2 RNA is detectable for at least seven days. This indicates that dilution of wastewater likely limits environmental transmission, and that detection of viral RNA alone is not an indication of pathogen spillover.

Monitoring COVID-19 spread in selected Prague's schools based on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded a broad range of techniques to better monitor its extent. Owing to its consistency, non-invasiveness, and cost effectiveness, wastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a relevant approach to monitor the pandemic's course. In this work, we analyzed the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic in five primary schools in Prague, the Czech Republic, and how different preventive measures impact the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copy numbers in wastewaters. Copy numbers were measured by reverse transcription-multiplex quantitative real-time PCR. These copy numbers were compared to the number of infected individuals in each school identified through regular clinical tests. Each school had a different monitoring regime and subsequent application of preventive measures to thwart the spread of COVID-19. The schools that constantly identified and swiftly quarantined infected individuals exhibited persistently low amounts of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies in their wastewaters. In one school, a consistent monitoring of infected individuals, coupled with a delayed action to quarantine, allowed for the estimation of a linear model to predict the number of infected individuals based on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the wastewater. The results show the importance of case detection and quarantining to stop the spread of the pandemic and its impact on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewaters. This work also shows that wastewater-based epidemiological models can be reliably used even in small water catchments, but difficulties arise to fit models due to the nonconstant input of viral particles into the wastewater systems.

Comprehensive, longitudinal wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 across a university campus, demonstrates low levels of SARS-CoV-2 activity relative to the surrounding community

Background. Universities are interactive communities where frequent contacts between individuals occur, increasing the risk of outbreaks of COVID-19. We embarked upon a real-time wastewater (WW) monitoring program across the University of Calgary (UofC) campus measuring WW SARS-CoV-2 burden relative to levels of disease in the broader surrounding community. Figure 1 The colour scheme shows 6 sewer sub-catchments at the University of Calgary. Auto samplers were deployed at 4 sampling nodes within sub-catchments CR and YA (both residence halls), and UCE and UCS (catchments that include several campus buildings). Figure 2 Log10-transformed abundance (i.e., copies per mL) of nucleocapsid gene (i.e., N1) for SARS-CoV-2 for each sampling location during October 2021 - April 2022. Locations denoted by the same letters (A, B, or C) show no statistical difference (p > 0.05) according to the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The WWTP sample corresponds to a catchment area covering most of Calgary including the university campus, for which sampling locations CR, UCE, UCS, and UCW are defined in Fig. 1. Methods. From October 2021 - April 2022, WW was collected thrice weekly across UofC campus through 4 individual sewer sampling nodes (Fig. 1) using autosamplers (C.E.C. Analytics, CA). Results from these 4 nodes were compared with community monitoring at Calgary's largest WW treatment plant (WWTP), which received WW from surrounding neighborhoods, and also from UofC. Nucleic acid was extracted from WW for RTqPCR quantification of the N1 nucleocapside gene from SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA. Qualitative (positive samples defined if cycle threshold < 40) and quantitative statistical analyses were performed using R. Results. Levels of SARS-CoV-2 in WW were significantly lower at all campus monitoring sites relative to the WWTP (Wilcoxon rank-sum test p < 0.05;Fig. 2). The proportion of WW samples that were positive for SARS-CoV-2 was significantly higher for WWTP than at least two campus locations (p < 0.05 for Crowsnest Hall and UCE - University way and campus drive) according to Fischer's exact 2-sided test. The proportion of WW samples with positive WW signals were still higher for WWTP than the other two locations, but statistically not significant (p = 0.216). Among campus locations, the buildings in UCE catchment showed much lower N1 signals than other catchments, likely owing to buildings in this catchment primarily being administration and classroom environments, with lower human-to-human contact and less defecation compared to the other 3 catchments, which include residence hall, a dining area, and/or laboratory spaces. Conclusion. Our results show that SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in WW at the U of C is significantly lower than the city-wide signal associated with surrounding neighborhoods. Furthermore, we demonstrate that WW testing at well-defined nodes is a sampling strategy for potentially locating specific places where high transmission of infectious disease occurs.

Estimating sewage flow rate in Jefferson County, Kentucky using machine learning for wastewater-based epidemiology applications

Direct measurement of the flow rate in sanitary sewer lines is not always feasible and is an important parameter for the normalization of data used in wastewater-based epidemiology applications. Machine learning to estimate past wastewater influent flow rates supporting public health applications has not been studied. The aim of this study was to assess wastewater treatment plant influent flow rates when compared with weather data and to retrospectively estimate flow rates in Louisville, Kentucky (USA), based on other data types using machine learning. A random forest model was trained using a range of variables, such as feces-related indicators, weather data that could be associated with dilution in sewage systems, and area demographics. The developed algorithm successfully estimated the flow rate with an accuracy of 91.7%, although it did not perform as well with short-term (1-day) high flow rates. This study suggests using variables such as precipitation (mm/day) and population size are more important for wastewater flow estimation. The fecal indicator concentration (cross-assembly phage and pepper mild mottle virus) was less important. Our study challenges currently accepted opinions by showing the important public health potential application of artificial intelligence in wastewater treatment plant flow rate estimation for wastewater-based epidemiological applications.

Quantifying the relationship between sub-population wastewater samples and community-wide SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence.

Robust epidemiological models relating wastewater to community disease prevalence are lacking. Assessments of SARS-CoV-2 infection rates have relied primarily on convenience sampling, which does not provide reliable estimates of community disease prevalence due to inherent biases. This study conducted serial stratified randomized samplings to estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 3717 participants, and obtained weekly samples of community wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in Jefferson County, KY (USA) from August 2020 to February 2021. Using an expanded Susceptible-Infected-Recovered model, the longitudinal estimates of the disease prevalence were obtained and compared with the wastewater concentrations using regression analysis. The model analysis revealed significant temporal differences in epidemic peaks. The results showed that in some areas, the average incidence rate, based on serological sampling, was 50 % higher than the health department rate, which was based on convenience sampling. The model-estimated average prevalence rates correlated well with the wastewater (correlation = 0.63, CI (0.31,0.83)). In the regression analysis, a one copy per ml-unit increase in weekly average wastewater concentration of SARS-CoV-2 corresponded to an average increase of 1-1.3 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection per 100,000 residents. The analysis indicates that wastewater may provide robust estimates of community spread of infection, in line with the modeled prevalence estimates obtained from stratified randomized sampling, and is therefore superior to publicly available health data.

Combining Community Wastewater Genomic Surveillance with State Clinical Surveillance: A Framework for SARS-CoV-2 Public Health Practice.

This study aimed to develop a framework for combining community wastewater surveillance with state clinical surveillance for the confirmation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants within the community and to provide recommendations on how to expand on such research and apply the findings in public health responses. Wastewater samples were collected weekly from 17 geographically resolved locations in Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky (USA), from February 10 to December 13, 2021. Genomic surveillance and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) platforms were used to screen for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, and state clinical surveillance was used for confirmation. The study results highlighted an increased epidemiological value of combining community wastewater genomic surveillance and RT-qPCR with conventional case-auditing methods. The spatial scale and temporal frequency of wastewater sampling provided promising sensitivity and specificity for gaining public health screening insights about SARS-CoV-2 emergence, seeding, and spread in communities. Improved national surveillance systems are needed against future pathogens and variants, and wastewater-based genomic surveillance exhibits great potential when coupled with clinical testing. This paper presents evidence that complementary wastewater and clinical testing are cost-effectively enhanced when used in combination, as they provide a strong tool for a joint public health framework. Future pathogens of interest may be examined in either a targeted fashion or using a more global approach where all pathogens are monitored. This study has also provided novel insights developed from evidence-based public health practices.

Year-long wastewater monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 signals in combined and separate sanitary sewers.

COVID-19 wastewater-based epidemiology has been performed in catchments of various sizes and sewer types with many short-term studies available and multi-seasonal studies emerging. The objective of this study was to compare weekly observations of SARS-CoV-2 genes in municipal wastewater across multiple seasons for different systems as a factor of sewer type (combined, separate sanitary) and system size. Sampling occurred following the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 cases in the study region (June 2020) and continued through the third wave (May 2021), the period during which clinical testing was widely available and different variants dominated clinical cases. The strongest correlations were observed between wastewater N1 concentrations and the cumulative clinical cases reported in the 2 weeks prior to wastewater sampling, followed by the week prior, new cases, and the week after wastewater sampling. Sewer type and size did not necessarily explain the strength of the correlations, indicating that other non-sewer factors may be impacting the observations. In-system sampling results for the largest system sampled are presented for 1 month. Removing wet weather days from the data sets improved even the flow-normalized correlations for the systems, potentially indicating that interpreting results during wet weather events may be more complicated than simply accounting for dilution. PRACTITIONER POINTS: SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater correlated best with total clinical cases reported in 2 weeks before wastewater sampling at the utility level. Study performed when clinical testing was widespread during the year after the first COVID-19 wave in the region. Sewer type and size did not necessarily explain correlation strength between clinical cases and wastewater-based epidemiology results. Removing wet weather days improved correlations for 3/4 utilities studied, including both separate sanitary and combined sewers.

Control at the sewers to curb the COVID-19 pandemic in Indiais the negligence perilous?

COVID 19 PANDEMIC has stricken in multiple waves, crippling the nation with each strike. Attempts at curbing its spread has been focused on a few established modes of transmission. Current literature evidence suggests possibility of Feco-oral transmission, detection of viable virus in stools of covid infected individuals, viral shedding several weeks post recovery and potential persistence of viable virus in sewage. Guidelines and protocols laid down have not included this potentially dangerous mode of spread. Many countries including Australia, Finland etc have utilized waste water epidemiology as a tool in surveillance. This can be used as a warning signal for early detection and control. This review article proposes the addition of new guidelines in this spectre to aid in curbing the spread of pandemic as well as adopting sewage surveillance as a tool in primary prevention.

Vertical outbreak of COVID-19 in high-rise buildings: The role of sewer stacks and prevention measures.

COVID-19 outbreaks in high-rise buildings suggested the transmission route of fecal-aerosol-inhalation due to the involvement of viral aerosols in sewer stacks. The vertical transmission is likely due to the failure of water traps that allow viral aerosols to spread through sewer stacks. This process can be further facilitated by the chimney effect in vent stack, extract ventilation in bathrooms, or wind-induced air pressure fluctuations. To eliminate the risk of such vertical disease spread, the installation of protective devices is highly encouraged in high-rise buildings. Although the mechanism of vertical pathogen spread through drainage pipeline has been illustrated by tracer gas or microbial experiments and numerical modeling, more research is needed to support the update of regulatory and design standards for sewerage facilities.

Guest editorial: Rethinking infrastructure projects for the new normal

[...]with the pandemic, additional health protection measures are required on job sites, and the social dimensions must be taken into consideration more than usual, which means that project costs and turnaround times must be reviewed. The first paper on Prioritizing risks with composition of probabilistic preferences and weighting of FMEA criteria for fast decision-making in complex scenarios by Fábio Henrique de Souza, Luiz Octávio Gavião, Annibal Parracho Sant'Anna and Gilson B.A. Lima aims to develop a risk prioritization process using failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) in association with composition of probabilistic preferences (CPPs) and weighting the risk analysis criteria. The last paper of the Special Issue, Energy Justice Issues in renewable energy mega projects: implications for a socioeconomic evaluation of megaprojects by Shankar Sankaran, Stewart Clegg, Nathalie Drouin and Ralf Müller, focuses on stakeholder issues created by large-scale solar and wind farms being built to keep pace with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 focused on clean affordable energy.

Wastewater treatment plant operators report high capacity to support wastewater surveillance for COVID-19 across New York State, USA.

Wastewater surveillance for infectious disease expanded greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a collaboration between sanitation engineers and scientists, the most cost-effective deployment of wastewater surveillance routinely tests wastewater samples from wastewater treatment plants. To evaluate the capacity of treatment plants of different sizes and characteristics to participate in surveillance efforts, we developed and distributed a survey to New York State municipal treatment plant supervisors in the summer and fall of 2021. The goal of the survey was to assess the knowledge, capacity, and attitudes toward wastewater surveillance as a public health tool. Our objectives were to: (1) determine what treatment plant operators know about wastewater surveillance for public health; (2) assess how plant operators feel about the affordability and benefits of wastewater surveillance; and (3) determine how frequently plant personnel can take and ship samples using existing resources. Results show that 62% of respondents report capacity to take grab samples twice weekly. Knowledge about wastewater surveillance was mixed with most supervisors knowing that COVID-19 can be tracked via wastewater but having less knowledge about surveillance for other public health issues such as opioids. We found that attitudes toward wastewater testing for public health were directly associated with differences in self-reported capacity of the plant to take samples. Further, findings suggest a diverse capacity for sampling across sewer systems with larger treatment plants reporting greater capacity for more frequent sampling. Findings provide guidance for outreach activities as well as important insight into treatment plant sampling capacity as it is connected to internal factors such as size and resource availability. These may help public health departments understand the limitations and ability of wastewater surveillance for public health benefit.