HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.b. Monthly Lab Update: Covid-19/Wastewater Epidemiology UpdateItem 12.b.
March 21, 2024
T O: HO NO R A B L E B O A R D O F D I R E C TO R S
F RO M :B L A K E B R O W N, P R O V I S I O NA L L A B O R ATO RY P R O G R A M
A D MI NI S T R ATO R
RE V IE WE D B Y:L O R I S C HE C T E L , E NV I R O NME NTA L & R E G UL ATO RY C O MP L I A NC E
D I V I S I O N MA NA G E R
G R E G NO R B Y, D E P UT Y G E NE R A L MA NA G E R - O P E R AT I O NS
R O G E R S. B A I L E Y, G E NE R A L MA NA G E R
S UB J E C T: MO NT HLY L A B UP D AT E: C O V I D -19/W A S T E W AT E R E P I D E MI O L O G Y
UP D AT E
Staf f has provided the Wastewater Based E pidemiology Update as Attachment 1 and will be available to
answer questions.
Strategic Plan Tie-I n
G O A L FO U R : G overnance and Fiscal R esponsibility
Strategy 1 - Promote and uphold ethical behavior, openness, and accessibility
G O A L FI VE: Safety and Security
Strategy 1 - Reduce and eliminate risks of injury or illness, Strategy 2 - Protect personnel and assets from threats and
emergencies
AT TAC HM E NT S :
D escription
1. Monthly Wastewater Epidemiology Update Memo_March 2024
March 21, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 106 of 195
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March 21, 2024
Wastewater Based Epidemiology Memo Update
Context & Background
Prior to the start of the coronavirus pandemic, there was little infrastructure to support a
global, national, or regional epidemiological surveillance program. Since 2020, Central San
has participated in local and national efforts to advance wastewater surveillance as a
reputable source of information. There is now a mature program for the trending and
monitoring of seasonal and emerging respiratory pathogens and the ability to mobilize if
there is a threat of an outbreak pathogen. This monthly memo will provide an update on
Wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE) on the local and national scale and Central San’s
COVID-19 Exposure Prevention Plan.
Central San Surveillance Data & Summary
COVID-19
COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2.
It can be very contagious and spreads quickly. COVID-19 most often causes respiratory
symptoms similar to the cold, flu, or pneumonia.
From the SARS-CoV-2 data for Central San’s service area from WastewaterSCAN (as of
March 7, 2024), the graph below shows a steady decline in concentration starting at the
beginning of February.
Figure 1: WastewaterSCAN Data for SARS-CoV-2 as of March 7, 2024. Timeframe is April 2022-March 2024.
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild,
cold-like symptoms.
From the RSV data for Central San’s service area from WastewaterSCAN (as of March 7,
2024), the graph below shows a decline in concentration starting at the end of January.
Figure 2: WastewaterSCAN Data for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) as of March 7, 2024. Timeframe is April 2022-March 2024.
Influenza A (IAV) RNA
Influenza A is a highly contagious virus that causes respiratory illness with symptoms
such as fever, chills, headache, sneezing, sore throat, and cough.
From the Influenza A data for Central San’s service area from WastewaterSCAN (as of
March 7, 2024), the graph below shows a steady decline in concentration starting at the
beginning of January. WastewaterSCAN identified a technical issue with the IAV assay.
The impacted data (October 1, 2023, to January 11, 2024) was removed from the
website. The WastewaterSCAN program has since corrected the issue and is now
utilizing an optimized technology. WastewaterSCAN has retrospectively re-analyzed a
subset of the samples from the impacted timeframe, and those results are included in
the dataset below.
Figure 3: WastewaterSCAN Data for Influenza A as of March 7, 2024. Timeframe is April 2022-March 2024.
March 21, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 108 of 195
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Norovirus
Norovirus is a very contagious gastrointestinal virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Norovirus is sometimes referred to as the ‘stomach flu’ or ‘stomach bug’; however,
Norovirus is not related to the flu, which is caused by the influenza virus.
From the Norovirus data for Central San’s service area from WastewaterSCAN (as of March
7, 2024), the graph below shows a plateauing in concentration from early February with the
start of a decline in early March.
Figure 4: WastewaterSCAN Data for Norovirus as of March 7, 2024. Timeframe is December 2022-March 2024.
Central San’s Wastewater Based Epidemiology Partnership Updates
Central San is currently providing samples for three programs that contribute to the
wastewater surveillance system. The three partners are WastewaterSCAN, California
Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the National Wastewater Surveillance System
(NWSS). Below is an update on each of the programs.
WastewaterSCAN (Verily Life Sciences, LLC)
Central San sends three samples of primary sludge per week to WastewaterSCAN, and the
program is currently funded through July 2024. Verily Life Sciences, LLC was awarded the
National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) contract for the fourth phase of
sampling. Central San is participating in two wastewater-based epidemiology programs
with Verily. As part of the NWSS program, Verily will analyze for pathogens in the
wastewater matrix to align with the prior program data. For the WastewaterSCAN program,
Verily will continue to analyze pathogens in the primary sludge matrix.
Data can be found here:
https://data.wastewaterscan.org/?plantId=57573845-4bdb-4cfe-8fc2-
986d5af188cc&charts=Ci8QACABSABaBk4gR2VuZXIKMjAyMy0wNy0xMHIKMjAyMy0wOC
0yMYoBBmIzMWQ2Zg%3D%3D&selectedChartId=b31d6f
March 21, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 109 of 195
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California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Drinking Water and Radiation Lab
(DWRL)
Central San sends three samples per week of raw influent to the California Department of
Public Health’s Drinking Water and Radiation Lab (DWRL), and the program is funded
through July 2025.
COVID-19 Data from CDPH be found here:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/CalSuWers-
Dashboard.aspx
National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) launched the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) in September 2020.
CDC developed NWSS to coordinate and build the nation’s capacity to track the presence
of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in wastewater samples collected across
the country.
Three phases of the NWSS program have been completed, and the fourth phase began in
December 2023.
Phase one occurred in January and February of 2021, assessed up to 100 treatment plants
representing ~10% of the US population, and was contracted through AquaVitas, LLC to
perform the sample analysis and data reduction. Phase two took place from June to August
of 2021, assessed 340 treatment plants representing ~30% of the US population, and was
contracted through Biobot Analytics, Inc. Phase three was initially planned to take place
from December 2021 to December 2022 but was extended to September 14, 2023. Phase
three assessed ~500 treatment plants and was performed through Biobot Analytics, Inc.
On September 26, 2023, the phase four contract was awarded to Verily Life Sciences, LLC.
On October 16, 2023, Biobot Analytics, Inc. protested the Verily commercial testing contract.
The new contract was on hold until the protest was reviewed by the Government
Accountability Office and dismissed on November 16, 2023. As of December 1, 2023,
Central San will resume sampling until September 14, 2025, with extension options on a
month-to-month basis thereafter until September 14, 2028. Unlike the other
WastewaterSCAN program that Central San is currently participating in, the NWSS program
sampling will be raw influent.
Data can be found here: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#wastewater-surveillance.
March 21, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 110 of 195
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National Update
COVID-19
Nationally, the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 shows an upward trend over the past 21 days.
Below is the population-weighted average of the SARS-CoV-2 N gene concentrations from
all participating WastewaterSCAN sites across the country over the last 365 days.
Figure 5: Graphic from WastewaterSCAN Newsletter, February 23, 2024
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV):
Nationally, the concentration of RSV has been on a downward trend over the past 21 days;
however, more than 50 percent of sites are showing an onset of RSV in wastewater. Below
is the population-weighted average of the RSV RNA concentrations for all participating
WastewaterSCAN sites across the country over the last 365 days.
Figure 6: Graphic from WastewaterSCAN Newsletter, February 23, 2024
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Influenza A (IAV) RNA
Nationally, the Influenza A (IAV) RNA concentration has not shown a significant trend over
the last 21 days; however, the concentrations are still considered in the ‘high’ category for
WastewaterSCAN. Below is the population-weighted average for all participating
WastewaterSCAN sites across the country over the last 365 days. WastewaterSCAN
identified a technical issue with the IAV assay; the impacted data (October 1, 2023, to
January 11, 2024) was removed from the website. The WastewaterSCAN program has
since corrected the issue and is now utilizing an optimized technology. WastewaterSCAN
has retrospectively re-analyzed a subset of the samples from the impacted timeframe, and
those results are included in the dataset below.
Figure 7: Graphic from WastewaterSCAN Newsletter, February 23, 2024.
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Norovirus
Nationally, the Norovirus concentration has had a significant upward trend over the last 21
days. Below is the population-weighted average for all participating WastewaterSCAN
sites across the country over the last 365 days.
Figure 8: Graphic from WastewaterSCAN Newsletter, February 23, 2024.
Central San COVID-19 Exposure Prevention Plan
Central San’s COVID-19 Exposure Prevention Plan, last revised in early 2022, is still in
effect, and all District employees are still subject to its provisions.
Central San still conducts contact tracing based on whether other employees had close
contact (6 feet or less) or shared air space (400,000 cubic feet) with the positive employee.
At this time, those employees who have had close contact are required to quarantine and
test, and those who have shared the same air space can continue to work onsite as long as
they test and wear a mask. In some cases, employees who may have had close contact
with the positive employee but whose absence may result in an adverse operational impact
may continue to work onsite as long as they receive approval from Human Resources,
continue to remain asymptomatic, test, and wear a mask.
March 21, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 113 of 195
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