‘Anticipating’ Covid-19 through water detection
Torrevieja follows Benidorm and installs devices in sewage system
TORREVIEJA will monitor waste water in the town to detect new cases of coronavirus.
Mayor Eduardo Dolón said local water company Agamed has installed an ‘innovative’ new system called City Sentinel.
“This will allow us to anticipate any possible flare-ups because the presence of the virus will show up in the waste water before the first symptoms appear in the affected people,” he said.
The system was installed in Benidorm last month.
Sr Dolón explained that the ‘technology allows them to pinpoint remains of genetic material’ of the virus.
He added that the virus ‘is not active’ in the waste water – and does not present a danger – but it can be detected. The waste water will be tested at strategic points around the municipality as well as at care homes, health centres and other potentially vulnerable establishments.
“If the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 is found in one of the sectors, we can follow it to the point of entry to be exact as possible in the detection of the flare-up,” explained an Agamed spokesman.
The mayor explained that the ‘tool’ has been developed by the company SUEZ España, which Agamed forms part of.
They will provide ‘rapid’ tests and digital analysis which will be passed on immediately to Agamed.
Sr Dolón explained that ‘world-renowned’ virologist Dr Albert Bosch from Barcelona university is collaborating with the project.
He noted that ‘once again Torrevieja is using innovation to make the town a safer place’.