Water Sector News

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Through the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors have been using wastewater as a way to predict coronavirus spikes. Doctors are raising concern after seeing data for one city in Kansas.

Health experts believe wastewater is a leading indicator in how COVID-19 is going to develop in a community. Sewage from infected people is how it happens. If there’s a high rate, they expect a surge in cases to follow.

In Lawrence, the rate of COVID-19 found in their wastewater is the highest it’s ever been since the pandemic started.

“And that should concern, right?” University of Kansas Health System Dr. Steve Stites said. “Because we know that the wastewater historically has predicted the rise in case counts.”