What is wastewater surveillance?
Wastewater surveillance helps detect early signs of disease spreading in a community. It helps identify growing health problems, even when people are not visiting doctors or getting tested. It gives public health experts valuable information about illnesses affecting large groups of people, from hundreds to millions. This allows them to respond before more infections occur. This approach can also help track new health threats and changes in infection patterns, such as seasonal trends or the impact of large gatherings.
All data are preliminary and subject to change.
Maine Wastewater Surveillance Data
How does it work?
When someone is sick with an infection, they can release tiny bits of the germ (pathogen) in their waste – even if they don't feel sick. This can happen when they use the toilet, take a shower, wash their hands, or do laundry.
These tiny pieces travel into the sewer system with other waste. The waste travels to a local wastewater facility for treatment. Before the facility treats the waste, the workers collect a small sample. They send the sample to a lab, where they will test it to see if any pathogens are present.
The lab sends results back to the wastewater facility and Maine CDC. Testing occurs multiple times a week. This routine data shows health officials when people in the community are getting sick. Health officials use this data to make health recommendations. This includes sharing safety tips or offering more testing/vaccines to affected communities.
Terms to Know:
Pathogen: Tiny organisms that can make people sick. Types of pathogens include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
Virus Concentration: The amount of viral RNA in wastewater.
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA): RNA is the instruction material of many organisms, like viruses or bacteria. It tells them how to make each part of the organism. Wastewater testing measures the amount of RNA in a wastewater sample. We estimate the number of pathogens in wastewater from the amount of RNA in the wastewater.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): RSV is a respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Healthy people typically recover, but RSV can be serious for infants, older adults, and those with underlying medial conditions.
SARS-CoV-2: SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. Most patients experience relatively mild flu-like symptoms, but some may experience more severe respiratory illnesses.
Influenza A/B (Flu): Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu usually causes mild to severe illnesses. Healthy people typically recover, but it can be serious for infants, older adults, and those with underlying medial conditions.
About the Data:
Sample collection:
- Wastewater treatment facilities collect samples of raw sewage before it moves on to the treatment phase.
- The treatment facility sends the sample to a laboratory for testing.
- Facilities submit samples multiple times a week, allowing for data trends to occur.
Laboratory Process:
- After receiving the sample, the lab processes the samples to concentrate any pathogen RNA that may be present.
- The amount of RNA is quantified for specific diseases like SARS-CoV-2, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Influenza A/B.
These labs currently offer testing:
- Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL)
- WasewaterSCAN
- Verily
Data Reporting:
- Labs report quantified levels to wastewater facilities and Maine CDC. Maine CDC reviews and uploads data for public displays on our dashboards.
- Maine CDC submits aggregated data to U.S. CDC for national surveillance efforts.
- Maine CDC monitors data for:
- Emerging health threats
- Activity of interest
- Disease trends
The data presented combine results from all participating wastewater treatment facilities in Maine and their respective laboratory testing sites.