UC Davis researchers and the city of Davis' public works department have teamed up to monitor sewage for signs of coronavirus infection spikes.
Courtesy: UC Davis /The city of Davis says it’s No. 1 when it comes to No. 2.
Fifteen new sewage sampling sites have been added to the city’s coronavirus monitoring system, expanding the Northern California college town’s ability to detect any possible spike in infections.
“The virus can be shed in the stool of infected individuals,” the city and UC Davis said in ajoint announcementintroducing thesewage surveillance. “Regular testing of wastewater can detect spikes.”
City public works officials, joined by UC Davis researchers, deployed the new monitoring equipment late last month.
The city said it collects sewage samples twice a week and sends them to the lab of UC Davis assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering Heather Bischel for virus testing.
“Davis is one of few cities to have a full-scale monitoring program in place,” she said in the announcement of the sweeping sewage scrutiny.
The city said it would be pleased to send sewage updates from its new fecal monitors to anyone who registers to receive them throughthe Yolo Alert system.
Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email:srubenstein@sfchronicle.com; Twitter:@SteveRubeSF
