Number of the Month

168 wastewater treatment plants are part of AMELAG

The AMELAG project (Wastewater Monitoring for Epidemiological Situation Assessment) analyzes two wastewater samples from each of the 168 participating treatment plants for SARS-CoV-2 every week. This means that AMELAG processes up to 1,344 wastewater samples per month nationwide. Although Germany has over 8,800 treatment plants, 168 of them can cover more than one-third of the German population.

SARS-CoV-2 enters the wastewater through feces and other bodily fluids and finds its way along the sewage system to the treatment plant. There, a so-called 24-hour composite sample is taken before the wastewater treatment process. During the sampling period, wastewater is collected at regular intervals over 24 hours. The sample is then mixed, brought to the laboratory, and processed. The viral loads contained are determined using polymerase chain reaction.

The current progression of viral loads is published in the AMELAG weekly report for all participating locations. The collected data makes it possible to draw conclusions about the infection dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and can help experts to comprehensively assess the infection situation.