The City of Windsor is taking part in an initiative to test local wastewater for evidence of the novel coronavirus.
The goal of the program is to help provide an early indicator if cases are increasing in the community.
To date, testing has shown evidence that the genetic signal for the virus can be detected in Windsor's untreated wastewater.
Wastewater samples are being taken from the Lou Romano and Little River Pollution Control plants and then analyzed by a team led by Mike McKay, Executive Director and Professor at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER) at the University of Windsor in cooperation with Ontario biotech company S.M. Research, Inc.
"This research follows on a long partnership between GLIER and Pollution Control in Windsor. Pivoting and extending our expertise and resources to wastewater monitoring, we are confident that the approach will be a valuable tool to public health and may provide an early alert to a second wave of infections in the community," said McKay, noting that many infections may go undetected. "I like to think of the sewer system as a non-invasive 'community swab,' providing a glimpse into the collective health of those living in the community."