Alex SDec 28, 2022
I'm going to pull up some covid wastewater data for SF and see what there is to see.
Show threadAlex S

Here's the data for Southeast SF watershed, via the California Department of Public Health.

Data source: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/CalSuWers-Dashboard.aspx

When I look at the chart, I see two "valley" areas and two "peak" areas. A March-April valley, followed by a May-July peak. Then an August-October valley, followed by rising numbers in Nov and a peak now, in Dec.

California Department of Public Health

Dec 28, 2022 at 7:40pmWeb
Show threadAlex SDec 28, 2022

I am interested in seeing how the current peaks compare to the size omicron peak.

But I can't seem to get any covid wastewater data earlier than March '22, despite the date slider going back to 11/30/2021.

If I'm missing something / if you find a way to get earlier data, please let me know!

Show threadAlex SDec 28, 2022

What am I going to do with this data?

As a baseline, I'd describe my current covid approach as cautious. (Not eating indoors, masking indoors.)

This month, typical wastewater levels are in the .001-.002 range. (A peak!)

If I see the levels go back to valley range (roughly, sub .0005) that could be a good indicator for me to revisit my approach and relax some of the precaution I'm taking.

Show threadAlex SDec 28, 2022

If you're curious about the units here, looks like the the units are a ratio: SARS-CoV-2/PMMoV. What is PMMoV?

"... SARS-CoV-2 concentrations for DWRL are now reported as normalized to a human fecal indicator, rather than raw SARS-CoV-2 concentrations. Currently, the human fecal indicator being measured at our contributing laboratories is Pepper Mild Mottle virus (PMMoV), a plant RNA virus that is abundant in human feces and rarely found in animal feces." [CDPH website]

Show threadAlex SDec 28, 2022
I should stress that I'm not a scientist or a medical expert. Just a human being trying to look for good data to guide my decisions.
Show threadAlex SDec 28, 2022
@kissane's Calm Covid newsletter <https://calmcovid.substack.com> inspired me to go look at my city's covid wastewater data.

That, plus the realization that many of the covid cases I'm seeing in my everyday life -- friends, family -- aren't being reported and recorded via PCR tests.
Calm Covid

Low-key compilations of data, advice, and interpretation as omicron takes over. Click to read Calm Covid, by Erin Kissane, a Substack publication with thousands of readers.

Show threadAlex SDec 28, 2022

Here's a side-by-side of the New York Times "New reported cases" count for SF county, alongside the covid wastewater levels chart from Southeast SF. Both roughly March 2022-present.

When I look at these side by side, I see roughly-similar stories. Main difference: The current peak we're in looks significantly more pronounced in the wastewater data. In the wastewater data, the levels look on par with this summer's peak, which you don't see in the reported cases chart.

Show threadenne 💤Dec 28, 2022

@alexsobill

cc @xek

Show threadPaul StansiferDec 29, 2022
@alexsobill Biobot has per-county graphs that go all the way back, as long as they have the data: https://biobot.io/data/. Sadly, it looks like most California counties weren’t collecting data with Biobot during the Omicron wave.
Biobot's Wastewater Data and Wastewater Intelligence Platform

Our wastewater intelligence platform monitors concentrations of both pathogens and chemicals in wastewater from across the U.S.

Biobot Analytics
Show threadAlex SDec 30, 2022
@paul_stansifer Thanks!