In a first study of COVID-19 survivability in wastewater, a team of Ben Gurion University of the Negev researchers has found that conventional wastewater treatment does not eliminate the risk of coronavirus spreading. The team analyzed samples of sewage collected during the first lockdown in April and during the second wave in July, and found that conventional treatment of the sewage before its release to the environment or reuse, was insufficient to reduce the virus concentration to undetectable levels. As such, they recommend, among other things, that wastewater be further treated to minimize risk of dissemination and infection. KAN reporter Naomi Segal heard more about the study, whose findings will be undergoing peer review soon, from co-lead researcher, Dr. Oded Nir, of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at Ben Gurion University of the Negev.

(Photo: Dan region wastewater treatment plant, 2018. Isaac Harari/Flash90)