Automatic Samplers Assist in Detection of Pathogens, Viruses & CECs via Wastewater-based Epidemiology

WBE (or wastewater-based epidemiology or sewage chemical information mining) is a technique for identifying a population's consumption or exposure to chemicals or diseases. A sewage treatment facility measures chemical or biological entities (biomarkers) in municipal wastewater to do so. In addition to illicit drug usage, wastewater-based epidemiology can quantify alcohol, caffeine, medicines, and other chemicals. Wastewater-based epidemiology can also detect diseases like SARS-CoV-2 in a population. Wastewater-based epidemiology is a multidisciplinary effort including wastewater treatment plant operators, chemists, and epidemiologists.

Professionals in water quality use the term contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) to describe pollutants found in water bodies that may harm the environment or human health but are not currently regulated. Agriculture, urban runoff, ordinary household products (like soaps and disinfectants) and pharmaceuticals are all sources of these pollutants. 

Natural and synthetic hormones are emerging contaminants, as is 1,4-dioxane. CECs can enter the water cycle after being discharged as waste via runoff into rivers, effluent discharge, or seepage and infiltration into the water table, eventually entering the public water supply system. Some emerging contaminants are known carcinogens and cause endocrine disruption and other toxic mechanisms.

The full line of Teledyne ISCO samplers can assist local governments, private industry, colleges and universities, and many others in detecting the COVID-19 virus, pharmaceuticals and CECs in wastewater and providing the information needed to create a plan of action.

For more information about Teledyne ISCO product in Florida, contact Instrument Specialities, Inc. Call 407-324-7800 or visit https://isisales.com.

Video Demonstrates Teledyne ISCO Automatic Sampler's Real-World Role in Detecting COVID-19 in Wastewater Systems

Researchers at UC Berkeley are using a simple and effective method for detecting the presence of the Coronavirus in wastewater flowing through municipal sewer systems. Water testing will assist public policymakers to determine where and how to implement COVID-19 prevention and treatment plans. 

Wastewater testing, also known as "wastewater quality indicators," is a broad term for the various test methodologies used to measure water quality. These tests investigate the physical, chemical, and biological properties of wastewater.  Wastewater naturally collects waste from hundreds to even millions of people in a single sample.  By drawing a representative sample of wastewater and analyzing it, you can gain a tremendous amount of information that you would likely not be able to achieve by testing people individually. 

The amount of viral matter in wastewater from a community could reveal the prevalence of COVID-19 in the population. This information can trigger the necessary mitigation initiatives and response plans, such as individual testing, contract tracking, and quarantine. It also allows for collecting data on a cross-section of the population, allowing for the monitoring of public health solutions for large groups. However, it is challenging to detect tiny virus particles in the wastewater that flows through our sewage pipes, considering it includes toilet water and sink water, shower water, and everything else that goes down the drain. Teledyne ISCO is leading the way in the use of automatic samplers for gathering wastewater to identify virus evidence in sewage.

Teledyne ISCO is a leading manufacturer and supplier of rugged, dependable field-portable instruments for water quality monitoring.  Their automatic sampler readings analyze the characteristics and presence of the Coronavirus in parts per million quantities, which, when compared to population numbers in a geographic area, aids in determining the presence and amount of virus in the wastewater. 

The above-referenced UC Berkeley videos provide a real-life example of how the Teledyne ISCO water sampler collects wastewater for COVID-19 analysis. In this video, samples are gathered from their University Village and sewers draining from UC Berkeley's undergraduate dormitories and surrounding neighborhoods.

The full video link is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwsRUw4y_dU.

The full article outlining UC Berkeley's initiative is here.

For more information about Teledyne ISCO samplers used for Covid detection in Florida, contact Instrument Specialties, Inc. Call 407-324-7800 or visit https://isisales.com.

Your Local Teledyne ISCO Representative is Ready to Assist with Applying Portable Samplers

Portable samplers enable water quality monitoring in a variety of remote locations. However, determining the right equipment and optimum configuration for the site can be a challenge. An asset you can reliably turn to is your local Teledyne ISCO Representative. They are your local source for new products, proper application, product obsolescence, and replacement. Also, because these experts have access to so many different types of applications and situations, your local Teledyne ISCO Representative is a wealth of tacit knowledge that they readily share with their customers. 

For example, more and more municipalities are testing their wastewater for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) uses Teledyne ISCO portable samplers to track COVID-19 in wastewater collection systems, proving helpful in controlling the pandemic. The use of sewage pathogen monitoring in wastewater treatment facilities as a public health surveillance tool is now a reality. Municipalities have at their disposal portable and refrigerated samplers ready for widespread collection and testing. Your ISCO Representative is prepared to outline the best ways to use this equipment as part of your overall Coronavirus strategy in any type of environment or testing situation. 

Teledyne ISCO Representatives can assist you in applying portable samplers in these challenging situations:

• Sites with low flow
• Deep vertical sampling
• Fast flow, solids, ragging, and other challenging conditions
• Special considerations for wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE)
• Tracking COVID-19 in wastewater to help control the epidemic
• Sample preservation, cooling, and battery life
• Selecting the proper sampler for the location

It makes sense to develop a close relationship with these factory-trained, technical sales experts for water treatment professionals. They will help you gain better insight into the most commonly encountered problems in portable sampling applications and how to handle them. 

In Florida, contact Instrument Specialties, Inc. Their phone number is 407-324-7800. You can also learn more at https://isisales.com.