An early warning system.

First, I’ll describe it.  Then, I’ll tell you why this adds fuel to my admonitions that many in power love to disregard.

What’s the early warning system?

We can sample wastewater systems around the USA and discern food-borne diseases and pathogenic infestations.  This concept, called wastewater based epidemiology (WBE), was proven about four decade ago. Both Israel and Finland used it to detect polio outbreaks in the 1980s. (Dr. L Roberts, Science.)  It got more sophisticated three decades later when  Dr. Daughton of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) was using the concept to determine drug residues; it quickly morphed into detecting the overuse of drugs.  From there, it expanded to detecting almost all infectious diseases.   Right now the big push is to examine the levels of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater.

The concept is that those of us (ok, more than 40% of us, up to about 80% of us) who have COVID-19 (whether we manifest symptoms or not) discharge the virus in our feces.  Which means the virus is found in wastewater.   The more the virus is found in the wastewater, the more of us that are infected.

And, data demonstrates that there is a 4-6 day period before hospital cases rise that the virus titer in wastewater rises.   Which is why the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) began a national surveillance system for COVID-19 in 2020.    There are some 400 sites across the country that are supposed to be monitoring for SARS-CoV-2.  The goal is to help the hospitals gear up for upsurges in infections. (The data is now published on the CDC website.)  This data source can also discern when a wave is dissipating.

That is exactly what we are now seeing across the USA.  70% of the 255 operational sites indicate a viral loading decline.  Unfortunately, the other 30% are showing upticks in the viral load.

So, that’s the good news.

Now, my admonition.

Many localities across the USA are beginning to advocate for the reuse of wastewater for potable uses.  I admit many of them plan to admix the wastewater with what they want you to believe is “virgin” sources.  (Unless those sources are from deep underground reservoirs- and even then- we have been reusing water since Adam and Eve took their first steps on this planet.  It may not be direct, but it’s reuse.  As an example, the waters of the Mississippi River are reused some 37 times before they ever reach New Orleans.  And, it’s from the Mississippi that the region draws its drinking water.)

Viral and bacterial analysis is not instant.  It can take days to get a result.  As such, we need to quarantine our treated wastewater for four to seven days IN A BATCH.  (That’s read as a reservoir, of sorts.  And, as you can see, this will require two or three such reservoirs.) Once that wastewater has passed quality review (which has to include viral, bacterial, and chemical analysis) can it be released for admixing and distribution through our potable water system.

Unless, of course, you are willing to have your drinking water suffused with a slew of contaminants.

I guarantee you many of our elected officials are not so squeamish.  Oh, wait- I meant prudent.

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