Sewersheds: What can wastewater tell us about community health?

This photo essay explores the journey of wastewater through sewer systems and its treatment processes. It highlights how analysing wastewater can provide insights into the health of communities by detecting the presence of diseases such as COVID-19. This method, known as wastewater surveillance, offers a cost-effective way to monitor public health trends in near real-time without relying solely on individual clinical data. ​

The essay is a collaborative effort between the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). Their partnership aims to align socio-economic and spatial data with disease burden, enhancing public policy decisions for public health. ​

Abstract based on original source.