The Analysis of Biological Parameters in Wastewater

An investment in life:

• Data collection for water quality and health

• Complementary approach to epidemiology

• For all types of pathogens: from influenza viruses to cholera, multi-resistant germs to legionella

One workflow for all types of genetic material:

• Well-designed and proven for reliable routine measurements

• Expanding on data collection for the critical infrastructure

Well-designed and proven process:

• The Endress+Hauser Liquistation CSF34 sampler collects and generates samples at treatment plants in full automation

• From the concentration of target organisms to the final PCR result: lab work in around three hours

• Up to 16 or 96 samples at a time: The InnuPure C16 touch pipetting platform and (at a higher throughput) the CyBio FeliX purify samples and isolate nucleic acids

• The real-time thermocyclers of the qTOWER3 product family amplify and detect genetic material using a PCR test

As seen during the corona pandemic at the latest, data collection from wastewater is no longer a far-off dream. As an early warning and monitoring system, it is expected to become part of the critical infrastructure meant to protect the population and avoid dangers to the natural environment – in connection with safe reuse of the water as well.

Likely areas of application include:

• Antibiotic-resistant germs

• Gastrointestinal viruses (e.g. Noro, Cholera)

• Influenza viruses (SARS-CoV-2)

• Salmonella, Legionella, Clostridium, E. coli

• Hepatitis

• Polio

The cellular rudiments of disease-causing organisms and viruses are excreted from the body. Traces of them in wastewater provides a type of anonymized mass test, allowing for data collection on the health of the population, while not interfering with personal rights and not requiring people to volunteer information.

The potential of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is only beginning to be fully recognized. In some countries such as the Netherlands and Australia, this principle is being used all throughout the country with regard to COVID-19. Since 2021 some counties around the world have recommended provided that the wastewater treatment plants of cities with a population of at least 150,000 should be regularly monitored for its SARS-Cov-2 viral load at the very least.

As well, further recommendations that critical infrastructure such as hospitals, senior citizen homes, and airports should be regularly tested. It is important, in any case, that the selected measuring method is maintained over time to provide comparable results and reliable information on trends.

There are several hurdles involved in detecting the coronavirus in wastewater.

Click here to read more about these challenges and how we can support you.

Endress+Hauser and Analytik Jena make it possible – with a workflow that can be used universally for all biological parameters and is capable of 16 or 96 samples per run.

Take the next step in this critical journey by getting in touch with us today.