Lithgow City Council and NSW Health Maintain Sewerage Testing

26 August, 2021

Council’s latest sewerage testing has again detected the presence of COVID-19 within the community

Council was engaged by NSW Health on 27 October 2020 to commence the sampling of sewerage at our Lithgow Sewerage Treatment Plant site once a week with samples sent to Sydney for testing for fragments of COVID-19.

On 19 July 2021, NSW Health requested that Council increase testing from once a week to twice a week. The Water and Wastewater team are collecting samples without any physical contact from the incoming sewerage to the plant on twice a week basis during peak flows times.

Sewerage is used for the testing as the COVID-19 fragments are found in samples from people brushing their teeth as the virus lives in the nose and throat of individuals.

Samples are then transported to an approved lab and tested on the day of sampling. W&WW will continue to complete the sampling for NSW Health.

For any further information on the testing please, refer to NSW Health’s website.

The latest test samples have detected COVID-19 fragments from the testing on the 19th and the 23rd of August.

This is concerning and reinforces the need for everybody to comply absolutely with all health orders, to maintain all health safeguards (masks, distancing and hygiene) and to get vaccinated. If you have concerns regarding symptoms or exposure to a positive case, please do not hesitate to get tested at Lithgow’s walk-in clinic at Lithgow Hospital or the drive-through clinic at Tony Luchetti Showground and remain in isolation until you receive a negative result.

Lithgow City Council and other services in the area are working diligently to obtain information as rapidly as possible for the community with the available resources. Council recommends the community refer to the NSW Health Facebook page and website for updates.