RIVM has been conducting wastewater research for almost thirty years. Back in 1992, RIVM found the poliovirus in wastewater samples. This discovery was made during a polio outbreak in an area where people were less willing to get vaccinated. Since then, RIVM has been investigating other things in wastewater water, such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Since 2020, these research activities have included wastewater surveillance to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. All wastewater treatment plants in the Netherlands are involved in this research. 

In future, wastewater research may also be used for other diseases or topics. RIVM is currently consulting with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and the regional water boards in the Netherlands to explore which options are available and what would be useful and feasible. 

What is wastewater research?

It is often possible to see what is making people sick by examining their faeces and urine. This is why a doctor sometimes asks you to give a urine or stool sample as part of your medical examination. 

When we use the toilet, our faeces and urine enter the wastewater system. Examining wastewater samples makes it possible to learn a great deal about the health of the Dutch population. Wastewater gives us information about various diseases, but also helps us learn more about lifestyle and living environment. 

By monitoring virus particles found in wastewater, we can see where the coronavirus is spreading in communities and to what extent. Coronavirus monitoring in wastewater research started on a small scale at the start of 2020, when the virus first appeared in the Netherlands. By now, wastewater from more than 300 wastewater treatment plants throughout the Netherlands is monitored. This research is part of the National Wastewater Surveillance programme.

Please see the explanation of this infographic below

 

View infographic Wastewater research by RIVM (PDF, 126 KB)

  1. Collecting samples of untreated wastewater from all 300+ sewage treatment plants in the Netherlands.
  2. Cooled transport to RIVM.
  3. Arrival and short-term storage.
  4. Preparation.
    1. Pre-processing: part of the untreated wastewater is prepared  for measurements.
    2. Biobank storage: part of the untreated wastewater is stored for additional research.
  5. Measurements. The quantity of a chemical or the quantity and variants of a pathogen are determined.
  6. Data analysis and interpretation. A correction is made for the daily quantity of wastewater (flow rate). The measurements are converted to figures per 100.000 inhabitants. The data is interpreted.
  7. Results. The results are made available to the government and citizens. They can be displayed per area and over time. 

Why conduct wastewater research? 

Wastewater research offers a unique opportunity to learn more about all sorts of diseases and our own health. This is because a lot can be read from a person’s faeces and urine. Wastewater can reveal whether a new infectious disease has appeared somewhere in the Netherlands. This applies to infectious diseases that can also be detected in faeces or urine.

Wastewater research is an important supplement to other forms of research. This form of research is anonymous, objective and does not place an additional burden on individuals. Moreover, almost all Dutch households are connected to the wastewater system, which means that wastewater gives reliable information about the population. 

Who is carrying out the wastewater research? 

The wastewater research is a joint project between RIVM and the 21 Dutch regional water boards and was commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). RIVM also partners with various water research laboratories, engineering firms, knowledge institutes and universities. 

What role does RIVM play in wastewater research?

RIVM has years of experience in wastewater research. This field of research is a good fit for RIVM, due to our wide-ranging expertise. RIVM combines knowledge about health, the environment and infectious diseases in a single organisation. 

What diseases or substances can be investigated in wastewater?

Wastewater can provide information about various diseases and substances at the local, regional and national levels.  This illustration offers an impression of the potential offered by wastewater research. RIVM is currently consulting with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and the regional water boards in the Netherlands to explore which options would be useful and feasible in the future. 

Read more: Wastewater research: what is possible?

Is it permitted to conduct research on wastewater?

Through wastewater research, we can learn a lot about people’s health without their knowledge. This raises an important question: is this allowed? What about privacy, for example? 

RIVM requested an independent assessment of whether the National Wastewater Surveillance in the Netherlands complies with the legal frameworks for privacy, and whether it should be subjected to the medical ethics review that is required for research involving human subjects. This assessment showed that the National Wastewater Surveillance is within the legal frameworks and that a medical ethics review is not necessary.

Although wastewater research can provide a great deal of information at the local or regional level, it does not reveal anything about the health of individuals or households. The research is done using samples taken from over 300 wastewater treatment plants in the Netherlands. Even the smallest wastewater treatment plant (on the island of Schiermonnikoog) has over 900 local residents connected to its wastewater system. Therefore, any virus particles in a wastewater sample cannot be traced back to individuals or households.

Contact

Mail to afvalwatersurveillance@rivm.nl