The City of Dallas' wastewater treatment plant is testing samples as they pass through the system, thanks to a grant from the federal government.
Dallas County Health Director Dr. Phil Huang says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asked areas across the country to start sampling wastewater to track the spread of the virus.
"We know that people can by asymptomatic, as well as symptomatic and have COVID. this would detect it in the system that not dependent on people getting tested" Huang said.
Officials say this won't replace other measurements, like cases and positivity rates, but it could help the county health system get ready quicker if another surge in positive cases arrives.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in the area have dropped 83% from late January, according to reports.
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