CORONAVIRUS

Utah Researchers Hope To Trace Coronavirus In Waste Water

Apr 15, 2020, 7:52 PM | Updated: Jul 26, 2022, 11:44 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — Researchers around the world, and here in Utah, have started testing waste water for the novel coronavirus, hoping it will help them estimate the number of infections in the community without having to test everyone.

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has started a pilot program with three in-state universities to find out if it works.

Most people in our community will not be tested for coronavirus. Researchers think identifying the virus in our sewage at waste water treatment plants could be a good way to estimate the number of coronavirus infections in our communities.

Analyzing the waste headed to the treatment plant is one way researchers can track infectious diseases we flush away.

“We know there’s a very real possibility, that people are excreting virus whether they are symptomatic or not,” said Erica Gaddis, director of the Utah Division of Water Quality.

A team of local researchers said they want to find out if they can trace coronavirus infection levels by detecting it in our waste water. They started collaborating with the University of Utah, which pioneered the concept, and researchers from BYU and Utah State University.

“We are testing this concept at a number of facilities across Utah,” said Gaddis.

Researchers have found traces of the novel coronavirus in waste water in the United States and in Europe.

“The initial results show that we can detect the virus,” she said. “I should emphasize that the way that we are handling the samples, the virus is not live, so we’re just looking at the genetic material to see the infection levels and how they may vary across the state.”

The researchers have started a three-week pilot program at nine waste water treatment plants to see if that testing could be an effective tool for the public health system.

“If it works, if we are able to correlate the viral waste load in waste water or sewage to infection rates that are known in various communities across the state, then it could become a tool that our public health partners could use to inform some of their decision making,” said Gaddis.

The testing could be used to detect the virus if it returns, an early-warning tool to alert communities to new COVID-19 infections, and help them limit the potential damage to public health and the economy in the future.

“Certainly, we think we can see trends,” said Gaddis. “The question is whether we can really quantify and correlate that to the infection rates, so that’s what we’re trying to pilot right now.”

She said the testing highlights the good work that waste water treatment facilities do every day, and gives her division a chance to explore new ways to attack the virus.

“It is exciting to be able to have a role in potentially helping public health decisions being made,” the director said.

She said it’s a good time to remind everybody that our waste water treatment plants are effective in cleansing our water, and providing us safe drinking water.

KSL 5 TV Live

Coronavirus

Julianna Preece goes through the mountain of medical documents she's acquired for her health condit...

Lauren Steinbrecher

Herriman couple is suing CVS, says 5x Covid vaccine dose mistake caused health problems

A couple is suing a Utah CVS vaccination clinic, saying a nurse’s mistake led to the wife receiving five times the normal COVID-19 vaccine dose and caused serious health issues she’s still dealing with today.

8 hours ago

FILE - COVID-19 antigen home tests indicating a positive result are photographed in New York, April...

Associated Press

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail

Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests online for home delivery.

12 days ago

FILE - Doses of the anti-viral drug Paxlovid are displayed in New York, Aug. 1, 2022. The COVID-19 ...

Amanda Seitz, Associated Press

COVID-19 treatments to enter the market with a hefty price tag

The COVID-19 treatments millions of have taken for free from the federal government will enter the private market next week with a hefty price tag.

1 month ago

Toddlers dance during play time at Living Water Child Care and Learning Center as center director J...

Associated Press

Child care programs just lost thousands of federal dollars. Families, providers scramble to cope

After two years of receiving federal subsidies, 220,000 child care programs across the country were cut off from funding Saturday Utah

2 months ago

Thomas Perlmann, secretary of the Nobel Assembly, right, announces the winner of the 2023 Nobel Pri...

David Keyton and Mike Corder

Nobel in medicine goes to 2 scientists whose work enabled creation of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19

Two scientists have won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries that enabled the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 and could be used in the future to create other shots.

2 months ago

child in doctor's office...

Mike Anderson

Flu, COVID cases expected to rise in Utah

The number of COVID-19 diagnoses continues to stay above what we saw over the summer but now some doctors are starting to see early signs of the flu as well.

2 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Users display warnings about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), access to malicious software ...

Les Olson

How to Stay Safe from Cybersecurity Threats

Read our tips for reading for how to respond to rising cybersecurity threats in 2023 and beyond to keep yourself and your company safe.

Design mockup half in white and half in color of luxury house interior with open plan living room a...

Lighting Design

Lighting Design 101: Learn the Basics

These lighting design basics will help you when designing your home, so you can meet both practical and aesthetic needs.

an antler with large horns int he wilderness...

Three Bear Lodge

Yellowstone in the Fall: A Wildlife Spectacle Worth Witnessing

While most people travel to this park in the summer, late fall in Yellowstone provides a wealth of highlights to make a memorable experience.

a diverse group of students raising their hands in a classroom...

Little Orchard Preschool

6 Benefits of Preschool for Kids

Some of the benefits of preschool for kids include developing independence, curiosity, and learning more about the world.

Utah Researchers Hope To Trace Coronavirus In Waste Water