In Germany, wastewater monitoring is used in addition to existing systems for tracking diseases. The aim is to assess the spread of infectious diseases and to use this information to protect the population. Wastewater monitoring can help identify outbreaks, assess how serious they are, and find out where they started. But how does wastewater-based surveillance work?
01
SAMPLING AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
Samples are taken at the inlet to the wastewater treatment plant throughout the day and then combined to get a 24-hour composite sample. This process is repeated several times a week.
02
TRANSPORT TO THE LABORATORY
The wastewater sample is refrigerated and taken to the appropriate laboratory.
03
SAMPLE PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS
In the laboratory, we analyse the sample to see if we can detect genetic material from any pathogens. To do this we use the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). We decide which pathogens to investigate based on the current situation.
04
DATA PROCESSING
The results from the laboratories are quality-checked, evaluated and reconciled with reference parameters to make the data comparable.
05
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Trends are calculated for each site. We perform epidemiological assessments, also using data from other monitoring systems, to develop measures to protect the health of the population.
06
COMMUNICATION/PUBLICATION OF DATA
The results are published on the internet. Also, we publish data and make methodological guidelines available so that anybody who is interested can download them.
WASTEWATER AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION
WHICH PATHOGENS ARE EXAMINED?
VIRUSES, BACTERIA & MORE
PATHOGENS FROM WASTEWATER IN GERMANY – A SELECTION
COVID-19
Germany's Federal Environment Agency and the Robert Koch Institute are cooperating in the AMELAG project. Its purpose is to assess whether and how many SARS-CoV-2 viruses are in our wastewater. The aim is to evaluate the local infection situation and track the spread of any variants.
INFLUENZA
Influenza viruses cause respiratory infections, which can sometimes be life-threatening. Influenza hits the population and the healthcare system every year. Wastewater monitoring can help assess how serious and widespread the local infections are.
POLIO
The campaign to eradicate poliovirus worldwide is not over yet. Poliovirus can be detected in wastewater, so we can track the spread of poliomyelitis-causing pathogens.