Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is used to determine the consumption of, or exposure to, chemicals or pathogens in human populations, and is conducted by collecting representative samples of untreated wastewater (influent) to quantify pathogens shed in the population served by the sampled wastewater system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and other agencies throughout the federal government, initiated the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to conduct WBE using analytical methods for the collection and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) in wastewater influent. The data generated by NWSS helps public health officials to better understand the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infections in communities. Surge capacity sampling to support NWSS and carried out by the USGS was conducted in September 2021 in six states (Colorado, Missouri, Utah, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin). 354 samples from 25 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) representing 26 distinct service areas (one facility has two treatment areas) were analyzed using ddPCR (digital droplet polymerase chain reaction) for SARS-CoV-2 using standard CDC assays targeting N2- and E-genes plus the wastewater marker pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV). Results for both genes are included in this data release (708 records).

This dataset contains the raw droplet counts resulting from of ddPCR or RT-ddPCR of nucleic acid extracts from wastewater. The wastewater was collected from three different sewersheds in Southwest Ohio (Mill Creek WWTP, Taylor Creek WWTP, and a sub-sewershed, Lick Run). ddPCR counts (positive droplets and total droplets) are provided for the following targets: N1 and N2 (SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid genes), crAssphage, PMMoV, HF183 (all fecal indicators), and OC43 (an RNA spike-in from a cultured coronavirus). Other metadata (pH, flow, temperature, TSS, CBOD5) are provided where available. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Nagarkar, M., S. Keely, M. Jahne, E. Wheaton, C. Hart, B. Smith, J. Garland, E. Varughese, A. Braam, B. Wiechman, B. Morris, and N. Brinkman. SARS-CoV-2 Monitoring at three sewersheds of different scales and complexity demonstrates distinctive relationships between wastewater measurements and COVID-19 case data. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, 816: 151534, (2022).

The data set includes the sample metadata, quantitative data of measurements of SARS-CoV-2 gene fragments in wastewater and variant presence interpreted from sequence data. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Nagarkar, M., S. Keely, E. Wheaton, C. Hart, M. Jahne, J. Garland, E. Varughese, and N. Brinkman. Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Southwest Ohio Municipal Wastewater. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK, 11(6): 1494-1504, (2025).

This data includes the results of an interlab methods comparison to recover and quantify SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Pecson, B., E. Darby, C. Haas, Y. Amha, M. Bartolo, R. Danielson, Y. Dearborn, G. DiGiovanni, C. Ferguson, S. Fevig, E. Gaddis, D. Gray, G. Lukasik, B. Mull, L. Olivas, A. Olivieri, Y. Qu, and S. CoV-2. Reproducibility and sensitivity of 36 methods to quantify the SARS-CoV-2 genetic signal in raw wastewater: findings from an interlaboratory methods evaluation in the U.S.. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK, 7(3): 504-520, (2021).

Data describes percent losses of SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater. Also details recovery of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater using two volumetrically different methods. This dataset is associated with the following publication: McMinn, B., A. Korajkic, A. Pemberton, J. Kelleher, W. Ahmed, and E. Villegas. Assessment of two volumetrically different concentration approaches to improve sensitivities for SARS-CoV-2 detection during wastewater monitoring. JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, USA, 311: 114645, (2023).

An interlaboratory assessment of the 8 analytical laboratories participating in the Ohio Wastewater Monitoring Network was conducted. This assessment compared measured results of SARS-CoV-2 gene fragments, fecal indicator organism and matrix spike. The data provided here are the results generated by the EPA/ORD lab participating in the network. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Davis, A., S. Keely, N. Brinkman, Z. Bohrer, Y. Ai, X. Mou, S. Chattopadhyay, O. Hershey, J. Senko, N. Hull , E. Lytmer, A. Quintero, and J. Lee. Evaluation of intra- and inter-lab variability in quantifying SARS-CoV-2 in a state-wide wastewater monitoring network. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK, 9(4): 1053-1068, (2023).