HAMBURG, N.Y. — A new early detection system for COVID-19 that relies on wastewater from homes and businesses could help the Erie County Health Department identify clusters before they spread.

The pilot program, which started on September 2, has reached the halfway point and should yield results by early October.

It's operating in partnership with the Erie County Division of Sewerage Management, the University at Buffalo, and the Erie County Health Department.

"We've seen a lot of municipalities that were doing this work, and we said that this might be something that we can really use to help and contribute to our community in a way different from our traditional," according to Erie County Deputy Commissioner of Sewerage Management Joe Fiegl.