Wastewater

Wastewater

Sewer Monitoring

This type of research is called wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). WBE looks for evidence of human disease in sewer water. Scientists analyze genetic markers of viruses, chemicals, and other targets from sewer water samples to monitor health. 

Published Research

Sewer Monitoring Research Ethics

Issues of privacy or stigmatization pose potential concerns for research, data collection, and analysis of wastewater. However, through the assurance of anonymous results, the protection of identifiable information, and diversity of selected sampling sites, the Co-Immunity Project incorporated ethical approaches to their work which safeguard the safety and well-being of individual privacy in effective ways. We are committed to adjusting our own principles and adopting new guidelines into our studies with the intent of promoting equity and inclusivity in the realms of medicine and public health. 

Sewer Monitoring FAQs

Read these frequently asked questions about sewer monitoring in Louisville.

Studying Water for COVID-19 (2021-2023)

Read about our wastewater research in the New York Times.

In partnership with Louisville’s Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), Envirome researchers used automated, 24-hour composite samplers to collect wastewater from 16 sites across Louisville. In the lab, researchers looked for evidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the collected samples. We compared this analysis with community and healthcare worker testing results to gain a better understanding of infection hotspots and spread.

Co-Immunity monitored wastewater for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to validate the individual testing conducted in the Healthcare Worker Study and the Community Study, to increase the reliability of our findings, and increase the resolution of findings at a lower cost than repeating individual testing. By comparing multiple datasets, we cross-validated each approach and had more confidence in our findings. This process could form the basis of a new cost-effective method for monitoring infection that can inform policy decisions and other community-wide interventions.

Testing wastewater allowed Co-Immunity to increase the resolution of our findings. While we could only test people for COVID-19 infection every 8 weeks, we sampled wastewater from 15 locations twice per week. In these samples, we looked for changes in the amount of genetic material (RNA) from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This analysis allowed us to identify geographic and demographic factors that could contribute to outbreaks. Comparing wastewater and testing results also allowed us to refine our models to consider local, seasonal, and sporadic variables that affect infection rates.

 

Studying Surface Water

Kentucky Waterways Alliance and UofL's School of Urban and Public Affairs led Co-Immunity's Surface Water Study. The team included University of Louisville’s Sustainability Director Dr. Tamara Sluss and KWA intern, Cullen Hunter, testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in surface water.

KWA monitored areas of interest along Beargrass Creek because of their proximity to combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and areas of recreation. During heavy rains a CSO may occur as a result of water from storm drains (stormwater) and wastewater from the sewer system combining and spilling into local waterways such as Beargrass Creek. KWA hoped to learn more about how much, and if any SARS-CoV-2 was found in surface water near these CSOs. We gathered information about the wastewater sewersheds overflowing into Beargrass Creek to better understand the risks associated with this novel virus and our waterways. As the project and sampling moved forward, KWA hoped to expand to more sites across the city.

Sewer overflows still present other safety concerns such as fecal coliform bacteria, E. coli, and others. MSD monitors these overflows and issues advisories when the waterways are not safe for recreation.

Wastewater Sample Collection

The Wastewater Team

Wastewater Research in the News

2022

2021

More WBE Resources