Wastewater metagenomics sequencing for the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

While sequencing clinical SARS-CoV-2 isolates has been at the forefront of public health monitoring efforts in the current pandemic, it is resource-intensive. This project is a pilot for assessing the role of monitoring the viral load in the wastewater of the Rotterdam urban districts via metagenomics sequencing. It aims to serve as a complementary and relatively unbiased tool for observing the viral dynamics in large catchments areas. To this end - other parameters such as rainfall volume, salt concentration, and crAssphage (viral) load can be used to standardize the dilution effects in the wastewater.