ARGO — North Dakota State University researchers are getting the green light to test wastewater for COVID-19 in cities across North Dakota.

The program has already been testing the water around Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck and Williston, but now they're planning on expanding to 25 smaller communities across the state.

Researchers recently got CARES Act funding, which will cover the testing for the next three months.

Wei Lin, a civil and environmental engineering professor at NDSU, said this will provide a more efficient way for these smaller communities to test for the virus.