National Wastewater Sewer Alert Network (SCAN)

National Wastewater Sewer Alert Network (SCAN))

Testing for viruses in wastewater has become a standard for measuring the level of infections. We see fewer hospitalizations and deaths as the the effects of the virus have become less severe because of vaccinations, built up immunity, and other factors.
Wastewater testing results are more correlated with infection rates than other measures.
Places like Stanford and UC Davis have been testing wastewater for some time.

The Sewer Coronavirus Alert Network (SCAN) is a program, at Stanford with Emory University which has been expanded nationally to monitor 10 different pathogens in municipal wastewater systems; Including SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, RSV, Norovirus, Hepatitis A and others.
The unitless normalized score on the charts are for comparing a locations change over time. The numbers cannot be used to compare different locations. A score of 200 for one location does not mean the the infection rate is twice as high as a location with a score of 100.
v The National Wastewater Sewer Coronavirus Alert Network (SCAN) has expanded with levels and trends for 10 different pathogens Nationally:

Studies in 2020 and 2021 when there was good clinical date showed a correlation between wastewater levels of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) RNA and COVID-19 cases.
See wastewater testing June 2024 National

Pathogen Concentration
Category * Trend

SARS-CoV-2 High Up
Upward trend
in the last 21 days

RSV Low Pathogen is seasonal
and not in onset

Influenza A Low

Influenza B Low

Human
Metapneumovirus Low

Norovirus Medium Downward

Mpox low 0 out of 393 samples
in the past 10 days were positive

Rotavirus Medium No trend in the last 21 days

EVD68 Low 14 out of 363 samples
in the past 10 days were positive

Candida auris fungus 11 out of 363 samples in the
past 10 days were positive

Hepatitis A Low 37 out of 363 samples in the
past 10 days were positive

* See About Wastewater dashboard below

Pathogen	Concentration Category *	Trend
SARS-CoV-2	High	Up Upward trend in the last 21 days
RSV	Low	Pathogen is seasonal and not in onset
Influenza A	Low
Influenza B	Low
Human Metapneumovirus	Low
Norovirus	Medium	Downward
Mpox	low	0 out of 393 samples in the past 10 days were positive
Rotavirus	Medium	No trend in the last 21 days
EVD68	Low	14 out of 363 samples in the past 10 days were positive
Candida auris fungus	11 out of 363 samples in the past 10 days were positive
Hepatitis A	Low	37 out of 363 samples in the past 10 days were positive

SARS-CoV-2 levels for regions:
Northeast and South are high
West and Midwest are medium.

Go to the Dashboard to find your town on the map for data.

See Wastewater SCAN West for SARS–CoV–2,: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY

June 2024 Half Moon Bay

National Wastewater Sewer Alert Network (SCAN) Levels For SARS-CoV-2 June 22, 2024
California

23 High sites
18 Medium sites
 9 Low sites

Location	Concentration Category
Nation	High
West & Midwest	Medium
Northeast & South	High
California 23 High sites 18 Medium sites 9 Low sites 50 Total SCAN sites
Sacramento	High
Woodland	Low
Davis	High
Winters	Low
Napa	High
Half Moon bay	Medium
Palo Alto	Low

About Wastewater dashboard What is measured (the target)
For SARS and Influenza RNA is measured.
The message encoded by the nucleocapsid (N) gene is the most abundant during viral infection. PCR is used to amplify the N gene and give a target number. [My son and daughter-in-law, who are neuroscientists, know what this means. I haven't a clue.]
Measurements are normalized to average out daily variations by measuring Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) which is common in wastewater.
They use the target/PPMoV ratio times 1 million which is unitless to produce a level used the charts called "Quantity of Nucleic-acids".

Unitless number on the charts 
called "Quantity of Nucleic-acids"
 on the chart: 
National     110-425
West         100-575
Davis         35-425
Sacramento    70-450
Half Moon Bay 70-500

The trend is the comparison of the current 5 day average value with one 3 weeks earlirer.

How are categories (High, Medium, Low) determined:
Using the range of values from the last year, levels are divided into thirds (lower=<33rd percentile) etc.)
Wastewater Category (High-Medium-Low) is a function of Level and trend
You may notice that the top third area often represents a larger range than the middle or bottom - this is because there is typically more variability in the concentrations in the top of third of data points.

Links:
See wastewater testing