Review Article
Occurrence, fate and removal of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater: Current knowledge and future perspectives

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104870Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Shedding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in excreta of symptomatic and asymptomatic cases reported.

  • Viral load in the feces of infected individual for SARS-CoV-2 is 104–108 copies/L.

  • In wastewater, dilution of feces decreases SARS-CoV-2 viral load to 102–106.5 copies/L.

  • High uncertainty in WBE warrants further research for early detection of outbreak.

  • Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in WWTPs enhanced by tertiary treatment and disinfection.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a pandemic of global concern, is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Recently, many studies have documented the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in human excreta and wastewater. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in human excreta and wastewater poses serious implications for wastewater treatment. Thus, this review aims to understand the fate of SARS-CoV-2 in the urban water cycle and its inactivation in different stages of treatment in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for effective control to prevent any recurrence of the outbreak. The viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in feces of individuals tested positive has been reported to be in the range of 104–108 copies/L depending on the infection stages. In the wastewater, dilution of feces results in the decrease of the viral load in the range of 102–106.5 copies/L. Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in WWTP samples following the wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) can complement real epidemiological data from clinical testing to help to monitor disease outbreaks in a community. Though promising, high uncertainty involved with the WBE technique warrants further research for reliable and quantitative information. Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in WWTPs depends on the operational parameters and is generally enhanced by the tertiary treatment and disinfection techniques with a higher dosage. However, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 dissemination by the treated effluent intended to be disposed of or reused in the urban water cycle needs to be assessed with respect to the extent of viral infectivity.

Keywords

COVID-19
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms
Shedding
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE)
Urban water cycle
Wastewater treatment

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