COVID-19 Wastewater Sampling

COVID-19 continues to make its way through communities around the world. Being informed about community health can help mitigate potential outbreaks that can be costly to businesses and local governments. One technique used to gather this information is wastewater surveillance.

The term “wastewater” includes water discharged from houses and other buildings that can contain fecal waste from toilets, commonly referred to as “sewage,” but also includes water from showers, sinks, laundry, and non-household sources such as rainwater and water from industrial use.

EnviroScience can provide field sampling plans and RNA testing services to detect the virus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, in environmental samples. We do not perform medical testing, such as PCR or antigen testing. 

Sewage testing has many advantages, including success as a method of detecting COVID-19 before an outbreak occurs. This early detection is possible because SARS-CoV-2 can be shed in the feces of both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. The ability to capture data on both types of infection is crucial for informed community and business decision-making.

The quantitative measurements from untreated sewage can be a leading indicator of changes in total community infection rates contributing to a particular wastewater treatment plant (otherwise known as a “sewershed”), depending on the frequency of testing. The obtained RNA data provides an indicator of infection independent of clinical testing and medical care-seeking behaviors.

The CDC recommends that the following communities consider wastewater sampling for COVID-19:

  • Local, State, and Tribal Health Departments
  • Universities and Schools
  • Wastewater Treatment Plants
  • Businesses
  • Nursing Homes

EnviroScience has the capability and expertise to perform these sampling and testing services quickly at a reasonable cost. Getting ahead of community spread is the best way to keep all individuals, especially those at high risk, safe. Call us today to learn more and discuss your particular needs and how EnviroScience can help.

For a project estimate or more information about our services, please submit your information below. Please note these services are typically performed for commercial entities, such as those listed above.

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    Wetland Delineation & Permitting
    Environmental Sampling
    Aquatic Threatened/Endangered Species Surveys
    Terrestrial Threatened/Endangered Species Surveys
    Stream/Wetland Restoration
    Bioassay & Sediment Toxicity
    Environmental Inspection (Erosion & Sediment)
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    If you need a response within an hour or less, please call us at 800-940-4025

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    Few environmental firms in the country retain EnviroScience’s degree of scientific know-how, talent, and capability under one roof. The diverse backgrounds of our biologists, environmental engineers, scientists, and divers enable us to provide comprehensive in-house services and an integrated approach to solving environmental challenges—saving clients time, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality results.

    Our client guarantee is to provide “Excellence in Any Environment,” meaning no matter what we do, we will deliver on our Core Values of respect, client advocacy, quality work, accountability, teamwork, and safety. EnviroScience was created with the concept that we could solve complex problems by empowering great people. This concept still holds true today as our scientists explore the latest environmental legislation and regulations and incorporate the most up-to-date technology to gather and report data.

    EnviroScience expertise includes but is not limited to: aquatic surveys (including macroinvertebrate surveys and biological assessments); ecological restoration; ecological services (including impact assessments, invasive species control, and water quality monitoring);  emergency response; engineering and compliance services; endangered mussel surveys; laboratory and analysis; stormwater management; threatened and endangered species; and wetlands and streams (including delineation and mitigation). Further, EnviroScience is one of the few biological firms in the country that is a general member of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) and offers full-service commercial diving services.