COVID-19 Wastewater Monitoring | Ministry of Health

This dashboard shows the change in SARS-CoV-2 over time, by showing the ratio of SARS-CoV-2 genes in human fecal waste. As detection levels rise, the trendline will also rise, indicating an increase in detection.

*Please note that some wastewater treatment plants use only one of the two detection methods. If the SARS-CoV-2 intensity chart appears blank for a particular treatment plant, check the Gene Copies chart for additional data.

SARS-CoV-2 intensity ratio detected

To better understand the amount of SARS-CoV-2 detected in wastewater, a population-adjusted ratio is used: SARS-CoV-2 gene fragments detected, divided by the total human fecal indicator in the sample. The human faecal indicator is the total amount of waste that enters the sewer system. This value allows comparison of one SARS-CoV-2 RNA sample to another and is a good indicator of how much SARS-CoV-2 virus is being transmitted in the community.

SARs-CoV-2 genes detected in wastewater

This graph shows the average number of SARS-CoV-2 gene copies detected in each wastewater sample. Gene copies are used to determine the two-week trend at sampling sites that do not collect fecal indicator data. Detection levels can be grouped into three categories:

• Measured: The actual detection level determined by the laboratory in the wastewater. This indicates higher levels of SARS-CoV-2 and more infections in the community.
• Estimated: The estimated detection level where SARs-COV-2 genes are present but too low to measure in wastewater. This indicates fewer infections in the community
• No Detection: When no SARs-CoV-2 gene copies are detected in a sample.