U of G researchers aim to test waste water to detect levels of the SARS-CoV-2 virus – released in human feces – from student residences. Detecting higher levels of the virus in the sewer system may help prevent outbreaks on university campuses, says food science professor Lawrence Goodridge.

He’s working on the project with other U of G researchers and scientists at Laval University and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

“We appear to be the first in Canada to test a campus residence and use the data to try to make the campus safer.”

Previous research shows that the virus appears in waste water roughly a week before it shows up in a population, says Goodridge, director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety at U of G.

“If we find evidence of the virus in waste water, it’s an indication that there is potentially a problem coming up. With that information, we can then take steps to take early action against that potential problem.”

Engineering professor Ed McBean and student research assistants are now taking waste water samples at East Residence.

By identifying the virus in communities, says McBean, the research could help target individual testing more efficiently.

It could also reinforce public health practices from mask-wearing to handwashing, says Goodridge. “We appear to be the first in Canada to test a campus residence and use the data to try to make the campus safer.”

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U of G will work with GE Water and Process Technologies, along with McMaster University, to test new ways to reduce energy consumption while generating energy from the waste water treatment process and using beneficial resources from waste water.

It’s the first large project to receive funding under the Southern Ontario Water Consortium’s (SOWC) Advancing Water Technologies program, which supports collaborative, industry-led technology development projects and is funded by FedDev Ontario through a $12-million contribution announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year.

“Waste water treatment is critical to human health and environmental sustainability,” says Malcolm Campbell, vice-president (research). “This project will bolster the University of Guelph’s great strengths in water research and help improve life.”

The project aims to achieve energy neutrality in waste water treatment by reducing demand and by recovering energy from biogas.

U of G will work with GE to test new anaerobic digestion technology, using advanced bio-solids treatment to improve biogas production and kill pathogens.

The research will be done at the University’s cutting-edge waste water pilot facility. Built in partnership with SOWC and the City of Guelph, the facility uses variable waste water streams from the municipal waste water treatment plant for technology testing and demonstration.

Ed McBean, U of G engineering professor and Canada Research Chair in Water Supply Security, heads the pilot facility. Engineering professor Sheng Chang is U of G’s lead researcher on the project.

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