No traces of COVID-19 have been found in the City of Kenora’s water supply to this point, but testing is ongoing to continue to monitor the community’s health.
“That is regular testing that is done with provincial authorities. The ones that are actually mandating the program,” explained Director of Engineering and Infrastructure Services for the City of Kenora, Kevin Gannon.
After a question on the issue from Deputy Mayor and City Councillor Sharon Smith during a regular council meeting earlier this week, Gannon says their job is to collect and enter wastewater samples before the results are then evaluated by the Northwestern Health Unit to determine if there are traces of COVID-19 in Kenora’s wastewater.
“Reports have come back,” added Gannon. “They’ve all come back normal and within range. There were some deviations in some of the reports, but they were minor in nature. The health authority has not taken any action on any of the reports that we’re aware of at this time.”
Public Health Ontario and Ontario’s COVID-19 Advisory Science Table both say the current COVID-19 wastewater surveillance can be an early warning indicator for a coronavirus outbreak within a community, and monitoring is taking place in over 1,000 sites in over 50 countries around the world.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is shed in the waste of infected individuals for periods ranging from a few days to several weeks, and viral RNA has been reported to be detected 3 to 7 days prior to an increase in clinical COVID-19 case counts – which can alert officials to an upcoming caseload.
Ontario notes these RNA fragments found in wastewater are not infectious, and the risk of contracting COVID-19 from wastewater is currently considered to be low.
The Ontario government invested over $12 million to detect COVID-19 in wastewater in March, 2021. Testing is also taking place in some First Nation communities, long-term care homes, retirement homes, shelters and correctional facilities.
Gannon’s comments came during his briefing on the city’s monthly summary report on water and wastewater systems of August, 2021, where he also explained that their water license and permit now require new water main disinfection requirements.
Kenora’s crews have implemented a precautionary boil water advisory anytime they work in the distribution system where water mains have been turned off, to help maintain acceptable water quality in the area.
Gannon’s report also showed that work on various leaks on the water service for Coney Island have been fixed, along with a variety of maintenance projects at the water treatment plant and throughout the community.