Potential discharge, attenuation and exposure risk of SARS-CoV-2 in natural water bodies receiving treated wastewater

Abstract

Abstract Recently reported detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater around the world has led to emerging concerns on potential risk in water bodies receiving treated wastewater effluent. This review aims to provide an up-to-date state of key knowledge on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 in natural water bodies receiving treated wastewater. In this review, SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in wastewater, expected removal in WWTPs, and possible dilution and decay in water bodies are reviewed based on past studies on SARS-CoV-2 and related enveloped viruses. We suggest a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) framework to estimate the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 in natural water bodies through various water activities. Dose–response model of SARS-CoV and Poisson’s distribution is employed to estimate possible viral ingestion and the annual chance of infection through several water activities in natural water bodies. Finally, future perspectives and research needs have been addressed to overcome the limitations and uncertainty in the risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in natural water bodies.