Raw sewage and sludge samples collected in and around Dhaka city contain SARS-CoV-2 RNA (Covid-19), found a new study.
However, there was no presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the samples collected after treatment by a Dhaka sewage treatment plant named Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant (PSTP), according to the study.
The SARS-CoV-2 RNA also wasn’t found in the water and sediment samples collected from river and pond ecosystems, it added.
The findings were shared at an event organised by icddr,b and the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) in Dhaka on Monday.
The event also shared the findings of a recently concluded study that looked into the presence of Covid-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) in sewage and other contaminated surface water sources in and around Dhaka city.
Covid-19 may lead to contamination of the environment if the sewage is not properly treated and discharged.
Between September 2020 and January 2021, there were 22 sewage and 23 sludge samples collected from the DWASA’s Narinda, Basabo sewage pumping stations and PSTP.
A total of six samples (three water and three sediments) were also collected from three ponds, namely the Institute of Public Health (IPH) pond, Mirpur Mazar Pond and Shahidullah Hall pond at the campus of the University of Dhaka.
The Shahidullah hall pond was selected as a control pond. All the samples were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR assay and different physicochemical parameters.
Dr Sirajul Islam, emeritus scientist at icddr,b and the principal investigator of the study, presented the findings.
The study showed that of the raw sewage and sludge samples, 57.1 per cent and 53.3 per cent samples were found to have SARS-CoV-2 RNA, respectively. There was no presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the samples collected after treatment by the PSTP.
Md Tazul Islam, minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, addressing the event as Chief Guest, suggested concerned people to take measures so that no other virus is present in WASA water.
Taqsem A Khan, managing director and chief executive officer at Dhaka WASA, said, “We have carried out the research with icddr,b to bring out the real situation to know if there is any Covid virus in our water. However, Dhaka WASA water does not have corona germs”.
