Wastewater Testing of SARS-Co-V2 in treatment plants in First Nation Communities

SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, is found in the stool of the infected individuals and eventually ended up at the wastewater treatment plants. Since COVID-19 pandemic started, researchers all around the world have been investigating SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater to understand fate of SARS-CoV-2 and predict a potential outbreak by monitoring wastewater for the detection and quantitation of SARS-CoV-2. Wastewater treatment plants, especially which don’t have disinfection processes, may not able to remove SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater. When it is not removed, it can reach natural water bodies and people. Our aim is to understand if SARS-CoV-2 is removed in wastewater treatment plants employed for the wastewater treatment of small communities and to gain insights into the potential use of wastewater surveillance of COVID-19 for small communities. Partner organization will have the chance to see if their submerged attached growth reactor (SAGR) system are effective in eliminating SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater.

Faculty Supervisor:

Miguel Uyaguari-Diaz

Student:

Partner:

Nexom Inc.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: