Website. We have developed a website for the OSU Wastewater Surveillance Laboratory at OSU.You can find Utility information on the site here: https://research.engr.oregonstate.edu/owws/utility-participants. You will find the filtering protocol, contact information, and a link to upload average daily flow on this page.

Workshop. About 9 Oregon utilities participated in the WEF/CDC sponsored Wastewater Surveillance Utility Needs Workshop in Seattle in July. We had very good discussions with folks from Washington, Alaska and Idaho regarding hurdles and solutions for utility participation.

Flows. We are trying to get all utilities to include the average daily flow with their sample, or within days of mailing their sample. If you already do this - Thank you! If you don’t include the flow with the sample, you can also use the website link, email wastewater@oregonstate.edu, or text to Christine Kelly at 541-829-1973.

Context: The CDC developed the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS, https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/index.html) to build the nation’s capacity to track the presence of SARA-CoV-2 in September of 2020, and is learning more about tracking other disease threats.  Oregon participates in the NWSS. The map below shows the counties in the US (in blue) that report wastewater surveillance data to the CDC.

 

From the CDS NWSS: 

Wastewater surveillance data are primarily used in three ways by state and local communities: 

1.    Monitoring for presence of infection within a community. 

2.    Tracking trends in infection within a community. 

3.    Screening for infections at a targeted site (e.g., building or facility) to trigger additional individual-based testing and mitigation measures. 

  

Wastewater surveillance data can be used to inform clinical testing and community mitigation strategies, such as: 

·         Increased testing of individuals in the affected community 

·         Increased public health communication about how individuals can protect themselves and outreach in the affected community 

·         Monitoring and impact evaluation of community mitigation strategies