ADB, Emory University, Manila Water commence Phase 1 of Wastewater-based Epidemiology for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in Metro Manila

July 04, 2023
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The Phase 1 of the WBE project covered testing for SARS-COV-2 in wastewater from Manila Water’s key wastewater facilities.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), Emory University – Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene and Manila Water have started the implementation of full-scale Wastewater-based Epidemiology (WBE) for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in Metro Manila, under ADB’s Accelerating Sanitation for All in Asia and the Pacific program.

Representatives from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia led by Dr. Pengbo Liu, Associate Research Professor from the Emory University – Rollins School of Public Health, went back to Manila to lead the implementation of the Phase 1 of the WBE project using the Company’s molecular laboratory located inside the Ilugin Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Pasig City.

This second visit was also focused on further developing the technical capability of Manila Water on both molecular laboratory operations and data interpretation and management strategies to ensure both the reliability of results and effective information dissemination to public health stakeholders and LGUs.

Majority of the activities were centered in the molecular laboratory, involving further discussions and optimization of the major steps in sample concentration, total nucleic acid (TNA) extraction, and qPCR analysis. Sewage and septage samples were analyzed coming from key geographical facility-based locations within Metro Manila East Zone including sewage and septage treatment plants in UP, Ilugin, Kapitolyo, Olandes, Marikina North, Makati South, FTI Septage and San Mateo.



Representatives from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia led by Dr. Pengbo Liu, Associate Research Professor from the Emory University – Rollins School of Public Health, went back to Manila to lead the implementation of the Phase 1 of the Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for SARS-COV-2 project, along with Water and Sanitation specialists from Asian Development Bank and members of the Laboratory Services Department of Manila Water.
The molecular laboratory was able to generate reliable and quantifiable results, with majority of samples found to be positive or present of SARS-CoV-2, indicating the current community-wide transmission of COVID-19 for the period of May-June. This was the first ever quantified data reported by the laboratory since its establishment that could be a strong basis to craft important public health decisions.
 
Launched November last year, this project is the first full-scale implementation of WBE for SARS-CoV-2 in the Philippines, undertaken by Manila Water to be used as a helpful tool in disseminating public health-related information on COVID-19 epidemiological monitoring of different localities in the east zone of Metro Manila through the help of Department of Health (DOH). This initiative could also further develop the capability of the Manila Water Molecular Laboratory for ensuring overall water quality through molecular detection of other emerging biological contaminants aside from SARS-CoV-2 that may be present on various water sources and wastewater effluents that may pose a high health risk especially on the vulnerable sectors of Metro Manila.
 

The WBE project was funded by the Government of Austria through ADB to support the regional technical assistance (TA) for improving sanitation in Asia and the Pacific in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 of achieving access to adequate and equitable sanitation solutions.

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