
Sewage testing can help us track the spread of SARS-CoV-2. But how does it work? Dr Paul Bertsch answers some questions.
Who would have thought the water flushed down our toilets can help track the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19? Sewage testing is proving to be a quick and early way to identify infection hotspots in communities around Australia and the world.
So, how does it work? And why is it becoming a critical part of our public health response toolkit?
Dr Paul Bertsch is part of a joint CSIRO and The University of Queensland (UQ) team at the forefront of the research.
He answers the top questions about how testing our sewage water can help track the spread of the virus.
1. Why sample raw sewage?
Scientists have found the genetic signature of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can be detected in sewage water. This is because infected people shed virus fragments when washing and toileting.
In fact, sewage analysis can detect the virus in a population days before it shows up in individual screening programs. Additionally, it can detect levels of the virus within a wastewater catchment, and how levels may change over time.
2. How do you detect the virus?
People start shedding the virus in their faeces about two to three days after first being infected. And this is well before they show symptoms of COVID-19 – if they notice any symptoms at all.
After it’s flushed into the sewerage system, the virus gradually disintegrates. It leaves behind fragments of its unique genetic signature, or RNA.
The gene fragments we recover from sewage are the unique fingerprint of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In other words, it’s like in TV shows where forensics teams use genetic ‘fingerprinting’ to solve crimes.
In a lab, the nano-scale fragments are filtered from untreated wastewater and amplified. Consequently, this enables researchers to isolate and confirm the virus’s fingerprint.
3. Is sampling wastewater for COVID-19 safe?

Dr Paul Bertsch is part of a joint CSIRO–University of Queensland team looking at sewage testing.
The coronavirus is fragile. And just like washing our hands, it’s broken down by all the detergents in wastewater and through the wastewater treatment process. Therefore, the good news is that while it may no longer be infectious, it can still be detected.
Drinking water is safe as it’s treated before it reaches your tap. So there is no risk in watering your garden or swimming.
4. Isn’t clinical testing enough?
Wastewater sampling can’t replace individual sampling. However, it provides complementary information about what’s happening at a larger scale.
Additionally, it’s not feasible to test everyone in a community individually through clinical testing. For example, recent US research found that up to 2.5 billion people globally could be monitored using wastewater surveillance. It estimated billions of dollars in global savings by less need for individual testing. And a lower cost from restrictions and economic shutdown.
5. How effective is sewage sampling for COVID-19?
The US study estimated wastewater surveillance could detect one SARS-CoV-2 infection for every 100 people at the very least. At best, it could detect up to one infection per two million people.
Here’s one example. The University of Arizona has used wastewater-based testing to manage COVID-19 infection risks to returning students in one dormitory. Early detection of the virus in the dormitory’s wastewater led to immediate individual testing of all 311 dormitory residents. As a result, two students, who hadn’t shown symptoms, tested positive. The staff then immediately isolated the students, stopping further virus spread.
6. How long does it take to get a result?
SARS-CoV-2 can appear in faeces within two or three days of infection. Scientists can analyse wastewater samples within one to two days.
By contrast, it usually takes from five days to two weeks for people to develop symptoms severe enough for them to be tested.
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7. What are we working on?
Our joint team with UQ has produced the world’s first peer-reviewed journal article documenting a proof-of-concept study on using wastewater to detect SARS-CoV-2 in the population.
The team sampled two Brisbane wastewater treatment plants in early 2020, during Australia’s first COVID-19 wave. Their results aligned with the numbers captured through individual clinical testing. As a result, this confirmed the accuracy of the sewage testing methods.
A pilot research program testing sewage for traces of COVID-19 began sampling at several locations across Queensland in mid-July. This is a joint project with Queensland Health, UQ and us.
8. What about the future of sewage testing?
As we think about opening up economies, sewage surveillance can help authorities detect and contain emerging COVID-19 clusters faster and more cost-effectively.
For example, it can be used to detect the virus in smaller populations, like aged-care facilities, schools and prisons, where COVID-19 prevention is particularly critical.
We’ve also demonstrated the effectiveness of on-board testing of wastewater on cruise ships before passengers disembark. Consequently, this could play an important role in the resumption of cruises in future.
Ultimately, with scientists predicting the emergence of future pandemics, the economics of permanent sewage surveillance stacks up.
As a leading public official in the US commented recently, if investing in sewage surveillance enabled his county to open even half a day earlier, it would be the best investment he ever made.
29th December 2020 at 10:04 pm
This is really cool. How much can you pin-down where potential COVID-19 infections are located? To the treatment plant / suburb / street?
4th January 2021 at 12:40 pm
Hi Cassie, thanks for your question.
We’ve passed it along to our scientists. However, they are working hard to research the coronavirus right now and may not be able to reply. If we do get an answer for you we’ll post it here.
For now, you might try these alternatives:
• https://expertconnect.global/
• https://theconversation.com/experts/
• https://www.expertguide.com.au/
If you’d like more information on our research into the novel coronavirus, please click this link: https://blog.csiro.au/understanding-coronavirus/
Thanks,
Team CSIRO
24th December 2020 at 6:47 pm
Given the nature of waste water and the fragility of RNA I would like to know what the expected ratio of false positives are. Having worked with DNA and RNA for many years this testing strategy seems a little precarious. Not convinced this has been proven effective. Happy to be proven otherwise.
21st December 2020 at 6:52 pm
Can wastewater testing be automated within an electronic household toilet and the result sent to health authorities over the Internet for contact tracing? If everyone did this non invasive testing every day, we can stop covid19 outbreaks very quickly. Is this scientifically and commercially possible?
12th November 2020 at 1:15 pm
Would like to know just how much amplification is required to detect the virus r n a. Its hard enough from a throat swab. I find it hard to believe it could be accurate outside a cruiseship outbreak or dormitory cluster.
I would be happy to be proven otherwise.
12th November 2020 at 3:36 pm
Hi Doug
Thanks for your comment. We’ve passed it along to our scientists. However, they are working hard to research the coronavirus right now and may not be able to reply. If we do get an answer for you we’ll post it here.
For now, you might try these alternatives:
• https://expertconnect.global/
• https://theconversation.com/experts/
• https://www.expertguide.com.au/
If you’d like more information on our research into the novel coronavirus, please click this link: https://blog.csiro.au/understanding-coronavirus/
Thanks,
Team CSIRO
11th September 2020 at 1:37 pm
Taiwan has handled COVID brilliantly and made it a non-event both medically and economically. Just seven daeths and no lockdown.
Were you to enquire how they have done this so well you would find that sewage testing is not among their techniques.
18th September 2020 at 4:12 pm
Hi John, thanks for your interest. We know that Taiwan is one of three countries have successfully employed early, aggressive tracing and testing procedures. The two others are Singapore and South Korea.
While we’ve not located any published evidence that Taiwan is using sewage testing (known as wastewater-based epidemiology) in its tool kit, we know Singapore and South Korea are.
Many areas in China, including Hong Kong, are also using wastewater-based epidemiology.
Thanks,
Team CSIRO
3rd September 2021 at 10:52 am
Why are all your responses so vague? Where are the answers from scientists? These posts are nearly a year old and still no response????