LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Newly reported test results have once again found the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in two local wastewater treatment plants.
COVID-19 was detected in samples taken on May 12 from the Southeast Regional Wastewater Plant, which serves the Clearlake and Lower Lake area, and the Northwest Regional Wastewater Plant, serving the Upper Lake, Nice, Lucerne and north Lakeport areas, Lake County Special Districts reported.
COVID-19 was not detected at the Kelseyville or Middletown wastewater treatment plants, the testing showed.
Earlier this spring, Lake County Special Districts began working with Biobot to test raw sewage for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, which is shed in the stools of infected people, as Lake County News has reported.
Biobot is a Massachusetts firm that has been offering the testing as part of a pro bono program it’s conducting along with MIT, Harvard and Brigham and Women's Hospital.
The virus’ presence in raw sewage indicates there are active cases in the county.
The testing has been conducted weekly since March in Special Districts’ four sewage treatment plants – Kelseyville, Middletown, Northwest Regional and Southeast Regional.
Samples taken in March were clear, then samples in April showed the virus’ presence in all of the treatment plants. Testing later in April would show no sign of the virus.
On Wednesday, Special Districts received results for samples taken on May 12, showing the presence of the virus at the Southeast Regional and Northwest Regional Plants.
Officials said results have been significantly delayed as Biobot has become overwhelmed with hundreds of agencies and municipalities joining their project.
Results for May 19 and May 26 samples remain pending, the county reported.
County officials said that receiving results two to three weeks after samples are taken has significantly diminished the value of this information.
As a result, Special Districts has secured a new lab that can conduct the tests and assure more timely delivery of the results.
“We submitted tests to the new lab last week, and hope to get results this week. As results are received, we will post the findings,” Special Districts said in a Wednesday statement.
Special Districts said that when SARS-CoV-2 is detected in raw sewage, it is diluted with chlorine, detergents and disinfectants that kill the virus.
Chlorine is in many public water systems, and household and commercial laundry, cleaning and disinfection products also end up in the sewer.
Raw sewage is toxic at all times, but the presence of this virus does not make it any more dangerous than it has always been, the county reported.
“Additionally, we want to assure the public the presence of COVID-19 in raw sewage in no way affects the safety of drinking water. These systems are entirely separate, and water provided by Special Districts is safe to drink,” Special Districts reported.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
COVID-19 virus detected in May 12 raw sewage samples from two wastewater treatment plants
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On