Wastewater Based Epidemiology – A strategic solution for population protection
29 March 2022, Online
Aqua Enviro invite you to participate in our virtual Wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE) conference on the 29th March and join leading international WBE practitioners and suppliers to explore and discuss, current and future practices.
Speakers include:
- Dr Jasmine Grimsley, Head of Science and Research, Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency
- Dr. Ian Pepper, Director, WEST Center Regents Professor, Environmental Science, University of Arizona
- Professor David Graham, Ecosystems Engineering, University of Newcastle
- Dr. Ted Smith, Associate Professor, Environmental Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine
- Kevin Sheeran, Process Scientist, Aqua Enviro
- Charlotte Sakarovitch, Data Scientist, Le LyRE – Pôle Data, Suez
- Professor David Werner, Environmental Systems Modelling, University of Newcastle
- Helena Steeves, Applications Engineer, Luminultra
- Michael Dooley, Managing Director, Strathkelvin Instruments
- Gareth Cross, Head of Variant Surveillance at Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government
- James Harbridge, Business Development Manager, Hach
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Background
Strategic sampling and testing wastewater in sewerage networks has proven to be a valuable tool in managing the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Since faecal shedding occurs prior to the onset of observable symptoms, sampling from strategic nodes in sewers provides a cost effective, real time, leading indicator to measure, monitor and manage viral prevalence (and variants of viruses) in the community. The value of this service has seen transformational change in laboratory practices and the development of new supply chains – but it has also raised questions of ethics and quality. Each of these aspects will be explored in this one day virtual conference.
Wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE) has a history stretching back over a century, since sewage was first postulated as a source of enteric illnesses and standard laboratory techniques were first developed to culture and identify specific pathogens. In some respects these early endeavours were blunt instruments, relying on grab samples and classical culture techniques to understand pathogen location and prevalence some time after the fact. Since then rapid advances in genetic techniques allow near real-time identification and quantification of whole microbial communities. There have also been (rather more limited) advances in sampling – with the Moore swab developed and deployed to help identify sources of Typhoid fever in southwest England in the 1940s.
The use of wastewater based epidemiology has expanded substantially during the current pandemic, creating an opportunity to monitor and improve the health of communities in the long term. WBE can not only capture the whole range of faecal pathogens, but can also be deployed to address other aspects of public health interest such as the presence of pharmaceutical metabolites, of both therapeutic and recreational origins. The potential for such passive population surveillance raises a number of ethical challenges and WBE is now experiencing a watershed moment, elements of which we will explore in this conference:
- Development of robust and reliable tests specific to key indicators
- Accelerating these tests to make best use of the lead indicator
- Practicalities for sampling within existing sewer networks
- Collection of the most appropriate sample for the test
- Ethical concerns and data handling, especially in near-source sampling
- Cost
Delegate Rates
Early Bird Rate – £125 (+VAT) if booked by the 18th February
Standard Rate – £175 (+VAT)
Discounts available for group bookings of 3 or more delegates – please contact clare.hunter@aquaenviro.co.uk
Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities
Do you have a technology or service that could benefit the industry? Why not showcase it on our event platform marketplace in the lead up to and during the event? Take advantage of:
- Customizable booths (with pre-recorded or live video, branded content, special offers and custom calls to action)
- Engaging demo experiences (create an interactive demo, play videos from a Youtube playlist, or whiteboard live with booth attendees using Miro.)
- 1:1 audience interaction (live video chat and even screenshare).
Company profiles in the virtual event marketplace are just £450 (+VAT) including 1 delegate place. You can reserve your space using the drop-down box below or contact Sarah Brown for further details.
Fantastic sponsorship opportunities are also available for those looking to stand out from the competition. Get in touch today. e. sarah.brown@aquaenviro.co.uk, t. 01924 257891.
WBE – Conference Programme 
