SARS-CoV-2 in water services: Presence and impacts

Abstract

The occurrence of human pathogenic viruses in aquatic ecosystems and, in particular, in internal water bodies (i.e., river, lakes, groundwater, drinking water reservoirs, recreational water utilities, and wastewater), raises concerns regarding the related impacts on environment and human health, especially in relation to the possibility of human exposure and waterborne infections. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presence and persistence in human excreta, wastewaters, sewage sludge as well as in natural water bodies, and the possible implications for water services in terms of fecal transmission, public health, and workers’ risk. Furthermore, the impacts related to the adopted containment and emergency management measures on household water consumptions are also discussed, together with the potential use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) assessment as a monitoring and early warning tool to be applied in case of infectious disease outbreaks. The knowledge and tools summarized in this paper provide a basic information reference supporting decisions makers in the definition of suitable measures able to pursue an efficient water and wastewater management and a reduction of health risks. Furthermore, research questions are provided in order to address technical and public health communities towards a sustainable water service management in the event of a SARS-CoV-2 re-emergence, as well as a future deadly outbreak or pandemic.

COVID-19 Crisis Creates Opportunity towards Global Monitoring & Surveillance

“…SARS-CoV-2 can resist standard disinfection treatments such as sodium hypochlorite and at an eco-friendly reduced concentration of free chlorine [176][177][178]. This is reflected by high levels of SARS-CoV-2 (0.05-1.87 × 10 4 /L present in wastewater even after treatment with sodium hypochlorite, perhaps due to the virus being embedded in faecal particles [179] or in association with other resistant microbes [180].…”

New Pollution Challenges in Groundwater and Wastewater Due to COVID-19

“…Lahrich et al (2021) Global study The occurrence of COVID-19 has been shown in stool samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic people as well as in municipal wastewaters worldwide. Langone et al (2021) Italy COVID-19 was already circulating in northern Italy at the end of 2019; wastewater (sewage) monitoring could contribute to the early detection of this viral circulation. La Rosa et al (2021) Global study COVID-19 in wastewater treatment, sanitation status and health-care infrastructure from middle-and low-income countries was correlated with risk associated with the fecal-oral transmission route.…”

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in different freshwater environments in urban settings determined by RT-qPCR: implications for water safety

“…Water safety starts with the protection of water resources in the catchment, therefore it is mandatory to prevent surface and groundwaters from coming into contact with fecal material. It is expected that groundwater benefits from the pathogens removal due to soil filtration, adsorption on sediment grains and progressive inactivation, and viruses in surface waters are exposed to several potentially inactivating stressors, including sunlight, oxidants, and predation by microorganisms (Langone et al, 2021). Rimoldi et al (2020) detected viral RNA in three receiving rivers in the Milan area indicating the partial efficiency of the sewage system of the metropolitan area.…”