cover image: Wastewater Sampling for Epidemiological Surveillance Report

20.500.12592/6j4ks1

Wastewater Sampling for Epidemiological Surveillance Report

23 Dec 2021

Environmental surveillance of wastewater (WW) is not a novel concept and has been successfully employed in the past to detect viral outbreaks of measles and poliovirus,1–3 the presence of a wide range of pharmaceuticals including legal and illicit substances (e.g. [...] A comprehensive review of published sampling information35 found that in many cases the sampling information was insufficient to allow replication of the study, and/or that inadequate design of the sampling method could lead to over-interpretation of data and misleading conclusions. [...] Even in sewersheds with separate sanitary and storm sewers, there is always some degree of inflow and infiltration, and storm events change both the flow and composition of the wastewater: storm water dilutes the parameters of interest and also flushes a higher proportion of inorganic materials (sand, grit) into the flow. [...] Study leaders and field personnel should always seek the advice of operators to identify the best sampling locations, and for details of auto-sampler installation to ensure it is installed in a location that (i) complies with the health and safety requirements of the WWTP, and (ii) provides the desired type of sample. [...] Wastewater Treatment Plan Metadata and Context As discussed above, a wastewater study must be designed in the context of the collection and treatment system realities and details.

Authors

Cheryl Marinsky

Pages
28
Published in
Canada