Story idea 💡
To investigate whether the coronavirus is detected in the urban wastewater of Thessaloniki, in order to support the national effort to tackle the pandemic.
A consistent research partner is Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), so our collaboration with the university’s Wastewater Epidemiology Team came naturally from the very beginning of the pandemic.
Facts and data 📊
The AUTH team collects daily data—wastewater samples—from the 24-hour automatic sampler located at the entrance of the Thessaloniki Wastewater Treatment Plant in Sindos, along with measurements from daily analyses of pollutant parameters.
The innovative methodology for assessing the coronavirus in urban wastewater normalizes the measurements of the virus genome concentration based on 24 environmental factors that could potentially distort the measurement results.
The assessment of the pandemic’s progression through wastewater serves as a “tool” that scientists consider when making public health decisions, and it is represented as follows:
Social responsibility 👷♀️ 👷
The examination of urban wastewater for the detection of COVID-19 will be geographically distributed, with “mapping” of the pandemic curve by neighborhood, thanks to the installation of fixed sampling points in the sewer network. EYATH’s immediate plans include testing wastewater for other pathogens or pharmaceutical substances, so that our sewer network can become a true public health periscope in the future, benefiting public health.
Data stories to come 💦
We are a company that collects daily data and interacts with its consumers regarding water quality, consumption, and transactions. With the future expansion of “smart” meters and through data analysis, we will improve the quality of life for the people of Thessaloniki and achieve a more rational use of our water resources along with a smaller environmental footprint.
