NORTHERN TERRITORY of that partnership than try and do it ourselves,” he said. And Dr Pain said the NT was not looking at doing this laboratory testing locally. “At the moment, we are very happy with the way things are working,” he said. “Our system has proved to be very reliable and very efficient,” he said. Limitations of testing Dr Pain said a positive wastewater result could mean someone was currently COVID-19 positive or that they had recovered from virus and was shedding it in their waste.
The shuttle is attached to a bottle to protect it from wet wipes and other things which should not be flushed (ABC News: Lauren Roberts).
The test itself didn’t show whether someone was still infectious. “That’s why it’s so important to follow up on these positive samples when there is one,” he said. “What we are really looking for is the unexplained positive samples.” And for Mr Boland and his team, the work on the ground isn’t always glamorous. “When you’re working at sewage treatment plants, poo stinks, there’s no secret about that, it’s not a surprise to anyone,” he said.
Dr Pain says he is pleased by how the NT’s wastewater testing program is running (ABC News: Lauren Roberts).
But Mr Boland was proud to be part of the COVID-19 response, helping keep the community safe. “The implications of something like COVID taking hold in the NT is pretty dire,” he said. “As a member of the broader NT community you’ve got to step up and take responsibility when you can.” This article was originally published on the ABC website on Sunday 15 August 2021 and appears with permission. The NT is part of the national program monitoring waste water for COVID-19 (ABC News: Hamish Harty)
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ENGINEERING FOR PUBLIC WORKS | SEPT 2021
