Detect the presence of coronavirus Covd19 in wastewater of urban sewers. This is the purpose of a new experimental project promoted byIstituto Superiore di Sanita. The aim is to develop a methodology that allows you to monitor entire cities, achieving information on the progress of the epidemic (beginning, growing phase, stationary phase, decreasing phase, exhaustion). The news was released by the Bolognese multiutility Hera, one of the companies involved in the operation.
In particular, "the project aims to develop a specific analytical method for the detection and quantification of the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in sewage waste - reads the company note - According to various international studies, in fact, it could be possible trace the spread of the virus in the population in an aggregate way starting from the sewers".
The wastewater data will then go cross-referenced with health and demographic information. Only then can you builda trend predictive model of development of the disease in the community served by that network.”
In detail, Hera will carry out weekly withdrawals from the terminal points of the Modena, Bologna and Rimini sewage networks, before they undergo purification treatment. "The Hera Group has already been mobilizing for this activity for a few weeks and in recent days has started collecting the first samples", continues the note.
“We took early steps to procure the equipment and reagents necessary to carry out the analyzes without subtracting resources from the health system – explains Roberto Barilli, general manager of Hera operations – We are now ready to support the ISS in this effort, which will be able to a great contribution to understanding the trends of the virus. The sampling activity will already start this week, while the analysis of the samples taken will have to wait a few more days: the drafting of the protocols that all the laboratories will have to follow in order to obtain comparable data and measurements is being completed".
