https://www.wbaltv.com/article/wastewater-testing-prevent-covid-19-outbreaks-maryland-department-of-the-environment-baltimore/35421503

BALTIMORE — The Maryland Department of the Environment is using a unique way to help prevent future outbreaks of the coronavirus.

Agents are testing for the virus in wastewater at various public housing facilities in Baltimore as part of a statewide initiative.

Workers from the environmental services company Inspection Experts were at Westport Homes on Thursday, sending an automated composite sample unit down a manhole to collect wastewater in hopes of seeing if there is evidence of COVID-19.

"The location was selected by the Baltimore Housing Authority primarily because it’s an isolated wastewater stream that specific for this community, and then we install the sample unit based on that location," said Rushan Abayagunawardena, vice president of environmental services at Inspection Experts.