Sewage testing to increase in Bega Valley

Sewage testing in Bega Valley is carried out usually once a week but council said starting from this week, it would increase to twice a week.

Three sites in the Bega Valley are tested, Bermagui, Eden and Merimbula.

The samples are sent to Sydney Water's West Ryde Lab and then analysed.

The results usually come back within two to three days after they are sent, council said.

The NSW sewage surveillance program tests untreated sewage for fragments of the COVID-19 to provide data to support NSW Health's COVID-19 response.

Testing sewage can help provide early warning of an increase in infections in an area, and potentially give an estimate of undetected infections in the community, NSW Health said.

Fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 can enter the sewage through an infected person's faeces and when washed off hands and bodies via sinks and showers.

It is not well understood how long COVID-19 survives in sewage. Virus survival depends on the conditions in the sewer, such as temperature, presence of other microorganisms, and the amount of organic matter. However, the virus is easily inactivated (killed) by detergents which are also present in sewage and it is not expected to remain infectious in sewage for a long period, NSW Health said.