The Brookfield Wastewater Treatment Plant is one out of more than 70 across the state taking part in the COVID-19 Sewershed Surveillance Project.

The project, which is a collaboration between the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and researchers at the University of Missouri – Columbia are collaborating on a statewide project to test wastewater for genetic markers of the virus that causes COVID-19. The project is funded by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity grant through the DHSS.

Justin Griffin, the chief operator of the Brookfield Wastewater Plant, said he was asked about participating in the program in June by DNR. After speaking to Brookfield city officials, they decided to take participate.

“Goal is to quantify the cases in a community or facility - can give that to help with guidance for people in positions to make decisions about what steps a city, county or region take with COVID,” he said.