Audrain County Health Department Clarifies Wastewater COVID-19 Data

The Audrain County Health Department is clarifying information released yesterday (Wednesday) regarding COVID-19 Delta variant traces in Mexico’s wastewater.

Sarah Palmer, Environmental Public Health Specialist II with the agency, says Mexico’s drinking water is in no way compromised and that drinking water and wastewater are two separate utilities that do not cross paths.

The wastewater itself is not infectious either, it simply shows remnants of the virus being shed from daily use into the wastewater system.

Sewage surveillance sampling is being done in more than 50 Missouri sewer systems.