tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Environ Res Public Health
. 2021 Apr 22;18(9):4455.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094455.
Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 on College Campuses: Initial Efforts, Lessons Learned, and Research Needs
Sasha Harris-Lovett[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kara L Nelson[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Paloma Beamer[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Heather N Bischel[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Aaron Bivins[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Andrea Bruder[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Caitlyn Butler[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Todd D Camenisch[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Susan K De Long[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Smruthi Karthikeyan[SUP] 10 [/SUP], David A Larsen[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Katherine Meierdiercks[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Paula J Mouser[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Sheree Pagsuyoin[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Sarah M Prasek[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Tyler S Radniecki[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Jeffrey L Ram[SUP] 17 [/SUP], D Keith Roper[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Hannah Safford[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Samendra P Sherchan[SUP] 20 [/SUP], William Shuster[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Thibault Stalder[SUP] 22 [/SUP], Robert T Wheeler[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Katrina Smith Korfmacher[SUP] 24 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging approach to help identify the risk of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. This tool can contribute to public health surveillance at both community (wastewater treatment system) and institutional (e.g., colleges, prisons, and nursing homes) scales. This paper explores the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from initial wastewater surveillance efforts at colleges and university systems to inform future research, development and implementation. We present the experiences of 25 college and university systems in the United States that monitored campus wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 during the fall 2020 academic period. We describe the broad range of approaches, findings, resources, and impacts from these initial efforts. These institutions range in size, social and political geographies, and include both public and private institutions. Our analysis suggests that wastewater monitoring at colleges requires consideration of local information needs, sewage infrastructure, resources for sampling and analysis, college and community dynamics, approaches to interpretation and communication of results, and follow-up actions. Most colleges reported that a learning process of experimentation, evaluation, and adaptation was key to progress. This process requires ongoing collaboration among diverse stakeholders including decision-makers, researchers, faculty, facilities staff, students, and community members.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; colleges and universities; sewage; wastewater surveillance.
. 2021 Apr 22;18(9):4455.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094455.
Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 on College Campuses: Initial Efforts, Lessons Learned, and Research Needs
Sasha Harris-Lovett[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kara L Nelson[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Paloma Beamer[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Heather N Bischel[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Aaron Bivins[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Andrea Bruder[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Caitlyn Butler[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Todd D Camenisch[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Susan K De Long[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Smruthi Karthikeyan[SUP] 10 [/SUP], David A Larsen[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Katherine Meierdiercks[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Paula J Mouser[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Sheree Pagsuyoin[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Sarah M Prasek[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Tyler S Radniecki[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Jeffrey L Ram[SUP] 17 [/SUP], D Keith Roper[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Hannah Safford[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Samendra P Sherchan[SUP] 20 [/SUP], William Shuster[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Thibault Stalder[SUP] 22 [/SUP], Robert T Wheeler[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Katrina Smith Korfmacher[SUP] 24 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33922263
- DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094455
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging approach to help identify the risk of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. This tool can contribute to public health surveillance at both community (wastewater treatment system) and institutional (e.g., colleges, prisons, and nursing homes) scales. This paper explores the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from initial wastewater surveillance efforts at colleges and university systems to inform future research, development and implementation. We present the experiences of 25 college and university systems in the United States that monitored campus wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 during the fall 2020 academic period. We describe the broad range of approaches, findings, resources, and impacts from these initial efforts. These institutions range in size, social and political geographies, and include both public and private institutions. Our analysis suggests that wastewater monitoring at colleges requires consideration of local information needs, sewage infrastructure, resources for sampling and analysis, college and community dynamics, approaches to interpretation and communication of results, and follow-up actions. Most colleges reported that a learning process of experimentation, evaluation, and adaptation was key to progress. This process requires ongoing collaboration among diverse stakeholders including decision-makers, researchers, faculty, facilities staff, students, and community members.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; colleges and universities; sewage; wastewater surveillance.