Corowa and Mulwala subject to waste water testing

Published on 07 September 2021

Federation Council has accepted an offer from NSW Health to participate in the NSW Sewage Surveillance Program.

The NSW Sewage Surveillance Program tests untreated sewage for fragments of the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus at sewage treatment plant locations across NSW. Testing sewage can help track infections in the community and provide early warning of an increase in infections. These tests provide data to support NSW Health’s response to COVID-19.

Federation Council Mayor, Cr Pat Bourke said the surveillance program is being run by NSW Health and has focused primarily on areas or zones of concern.

“The program is being expanded and NSW Health invited Federation Council to participate in the program with the inclusion of Corowa and Mulwala” he said. 

“Sampling will be conducted twice weekly commencing, Tuesday 7 September, 2021 at both the Corowa and Mulwala Sewage Treatment Works. Sample analysis will be undertaken by Sydney Water Laboratory Services and results are published in the COVID-19 Weekly Surveillance Reports via the NSW Health website.”

Mayor Bourke said Council saw this opportunity as a proactive approach to ensure the community had every opportunity to protect itself from a Covid-19 delta outbreak.

“We know just how contagious delta is, and early detection and suppression is absolutely vital,” he said.

“We see participating in the program is a logical decision as it would highlight to us early any detection, and give our community the best possible chance of getting on the front foot and responding to calls for symptomatic testing.”

Further information on the Program can be found at NSW Sewage Surveillance Program.