SARS-CoV-2 existence in sewage and wastewater: A global public health concern?

The SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the globe and affected millions of individuals as of the efficient virus transmission potential mediated via multiple virus shedding routes. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the stool samples and its prolonged shedding in environmental compartments like sewage and wastewater signifies a potential threat adding to the transmission cycle of this novel virus. The potential role played by the asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in transmitting the disease via the fecal-oral route is now under investigation. Hence, in the present scenario, wastewater-based epidemiology, and sewage surveillance may provide valuable insights into the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among the human population and could serve as a sensitive surveillance system and a crucial early warning tool. Further studies are required to determine the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment, transmissibility through wastewater, and the potential to infect humans via the fecal-oral route. Appropriate frameworks with regards to evaluation and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 will help implement appropriate intervention strategies and necessary sanitation practices to ensure virus free clean water supply to have a check on the further spread of this pandemic virus. [Display omitted] •The SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been detected from the sewage and wastewater.•Sewage surveillance and wastewater testing for SARS-CoV-2 could serve as a sensitive surveillance system and early warning tool.•Novel computational surveillance for analyzing wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) is being explored.•The survivability, transmissibility and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage are vital issues and need to be addressed properly.•Ample wastewater/sewage treatment protocols and sanitation practices must be adopted to curb this pandemic virus.