Page 14 - March-April2021 Vol 38 No 7
P. 14
By Lisa Hood Skinner
Wastewater Analysis: Another Tool
in the Fight Against COVID-19
For a moment, consider: layer of protection for schools, senior The company provides surveillance
Students staying in college dorms at living facilities, municipal public works data to its clients to determine if these
Clemson and Baylor Universities. departments and other institutions. segmented groups are shedding the
Aging parents living in senior living Surveillance Data: Pre-and-Post virus and if they are at risk of further
facilities in Greensboro and Kingsport. Pandemic infection. Graves said the firm’s work in
Public Works crews digging in the large communities and schools has shown
middle of city streets in the cities of St. Before COVID-19, the firm was reliable detection in changes of virus
Augustine…and Oak Ridge. known for the thorough job its scientists concentration, well ahead of clinical cases
These types of diverse populations, like and engineers provide worldwide via showing up in case counts.
many others across the U.S. and the world, analytical services, soil and groundwater
are vulnerable to SARS-Cov-2, the virus remediation and mitigation of hazardous The process is fairly simple. Wastewater
that causes COVID-19. Yet, these specific contamination. But within the last year, samples are taken from sewers across
groups are being protected through companies across the globe have shifted a specific area. In the case of pooled
informed response to data generated their main business proposition from saliva, samples are collected from groups
from wastewater and saliva testing. Those “business as normal” to accommodate of certain individuals. The samples are
reports are performed and analyzed business “that’s anything but normal.” analyzed, reports are generated, and
by scientists at the consulting and East Tennessee’s Geosyntec has been no Geosyntec’s clients can make informed
engineering firm Geosyntec Consultants exception, Graves said. decisions on their next steps regarding the
through its laboratory division, SiREM virus’ concentration and potential spread.
Lab, in Knoxville. He said when the global pandemic Oak Ridge Public Works’ Usage of Test
In many ways, Geosyntec’s services “are hit, “we realized that provision of our Results
another vital tool” in the fight against surveillance data was invaluable to groups
the rampant virus, said Duane Graves, such as educational institutions, resorts, For example, Shira McWaters, Oak
Ph.D, a Senior Principal with Geosyntec. hotels, childcare, eldercare, and any Ridge Public Works Director, said her
Graves said the firm offers an additional businesses where employees (in groups or department is using Geosyntec’s test
shifts) could benefit from reliable data on reports to protect both the public, as
SARS-CoV-2 virus prevalence.” well as Oak Ridge Public Works crews
14 TPW March/April 2021
