It turns out our wastewater can offer insight on the spread of COVID-19.
Each week, the University of Illinois Chicago sifts through gallons of wastewater sewage. Researchers test the samples to determine the level of COVID-19 and monitor the growth, decline or stability of infection within a community.
According to the Daily Herald, wastewater surveillance, when combined with other testing and hospitalization data, can serve as an indicator of increased disease transmission.
Although sewage data from the CDC is several days behind, it does show growing levels of COVID-19 at most sites statewide.