In a new effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 across the state, a COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Pilot Project was developed by the Michigan Departments of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), in collaboration with 29 local health departments, 19 laboratories and at least 135 partner agencies and organizations. The project establishes a standardized network of wastewater monitoring systems across a large portion of Michigan that will test wastewater for the presence of this virus. Funds were awarded to 20 local projects for this three-month pilot program, and more than 270 locations will be sampled during this time.
The goal of the project is to more rapidly detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, in specific communities by sampling and testing wastewater from sewers and wastewater treatment plants for this virus.