History of coronavirus wastewater monitoring

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Coronavirus wastewater monitoring 30 August 2022 – 20 February 2023

During the period 30 August 2022–20 February 2021, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare surveyed the prevalence of coronavirus in untreated wastewater in Finland each week at the treatment plants of Espoo, Helsinki, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Oulu, Tampere, Turku and Vaasa and monthly at the treatment plants of Lappeenranta, Pietarsaari, Rovaniemi and Seinäjoki.

The total numbers of coronavirus RNA copies in samples collected at wastewater treatment plants have been fairly consistent with the number of COVID-19 cases in Finland in the period from 30 August 2022 to 20 February 2023. The break in trend tracking at the turn of the year 2022—2023 is due to a change in laboratory method and the Christmas break.

Total number of RNA copies of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater samples and confirmed COVID-19 cases in the areas of the 14 treatment plants from 30 August 2022 to 20 February 2023. Wastewater RNA numbers are based on the RNA standard introduced on November 14, 2023. The break in trend tracking at the turn of the year 2022—2023 is due to a change in laboratory method and the Christmas break.

Coronavirus wastewater monitoring 1 June 2021 – 29 August 2022

During the perioid 1 June 9 August 2021, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare surveyed each week the prevalence of coronavirus in untreated wastewater at the treatment plants of Helsinki, Espoo, Turku, Tampere, Oulu and Jyväskylä. After 15 August 2021 for weekly monitoring the treatment plants of Kuopio, Vaasa, Pori, Joensuu, Kouvola and Hämeenlinna were added. In treatment plants of Lappeenranta and Rovaniemi monitoring was done in every other week and in Seinäjoki and Pietarsaari once a month.

 The total numbers of coronavirus RNA copies in samples collected at wastewater treatment plants have been fairly consistent with the number of COVID-19 cases in Finland in the period from 15 August 2021 to 29 August 2022.
Total number of RNA copies of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater samples and confirmed COVID-19 cases in the areas of the 14 treatment plants from 15 August 2021 to 29 August 2022.

In the figure total number of RNA copies of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater samples and confirmed COVID-19 cases in the areas of the 14 treatment plants from 15 August 2021 to 29 August 2022. The figure does not contain results from Seinäjoki and Pietarsaari treatment plants monitored once a month.

Coronavirus wastewater monitoring 3 August 2020 – 31 May 2021

During the period 3 August 2020–31 May 2021, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare surveyed each week the prevalence of coronavirus in untreated wastewater in Finland at the treatment plants of Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Kuopio and Oulu and every other week from 23 other wastewater treatment plants (see the list at the bottom of the page). This wastewater monitoring covered approximately 60% of the wastewater produced by the Finnish population.

The total numbers of coronavirus RNA copies in samples collected at wastewater treatment plants have been fairly consistent with the number of COVID-19 cases in Finland in the period from 3 August 2020 to 31 May 2022. 
The figure shows the results of the monitoring, calculated per 100,000 people. The numbers of coronavirus RNA copies in the wastewater were measured every second week, when samples were collected from all 28 wastewater treatment plants participating in the monitoring. The incidence figures have been calculated as a 14-day rolling sum per 100,000 persons.

Wastewater treatment plants that participating in the wastewater monitoring 

Depending on the epidemic situation, up to a total of 28 wastewater treatment plants from from different parts of Finland are participating in the monitoring. The following is a list of municipalities whose wastewater treatment plants participate in the monitoring as well as the municipal areas from which the wastewater networks of the treatment plants collect wastewater.

Espoo, Blominmäki

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Espoo, Vantaa (western part), Kirkkonummi, Kauniainen, Siuntio
  • Number of residents within the network: 390,000

Helsinki, Viikinmäki

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Helsinki, Järvenpää, Kerava, Mäntsälä (southern part), Pornainen, Sipoo, Tuusula, Vantaa (eastern and central part)
  • Number of residents within the network: 860,000

Hämeenlinna, Paroinen

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Hämeenlinna, Hattula
  • Number of residents within the network: 66,000

Jyväskylä, Nenäinniemi

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Jyväskylä, Laukaa, Muurame, Uurainen
  • Number of residents within the network: 155,000

Joensuu, Kuhasalo

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Joensuu, Kontiolahti, Liperi, Polvijärvi
  • Number of residents within the network: 98,000

Kajaani, Peuraniemi

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Kajaani
  • Number of residents within the network: 34,000

Kemi, Peurasaari

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Kemi, Simo
  • Number of residents within the network: 23,000

Kokkola, Hopeakivenlahti

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Kokkola
  • Number of residents within the network: 36,000

Kotka, Mussalo

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Kotka, Pyhtää, Kouvola, Hamina, Miehikkälä, Virolahti
  • Number of residents within the network: 99,000

Kouvola, Mäkikylä

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Kouvola
  • Number of residents within the network: 67,000

Kuopio, Lehtoniemi

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Kuopio
  • Number of residents within the network: 91,000

Lahti, Kariniemi

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Lahti, Hollola
  • Number of residents within the network: 64,000

Lahti, Ali-Juhakkala

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Lahti, Hollola
  • Number of residents within the network: 62,000

Lappeenranta, Toikansuo

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Lappeenranta, Lemi, Taipalsaari
  • Number of residents within the network: 63,000

Maarianhamina, Lotsbroverket

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Finström, Hammarland, Jomala, Lemland, Maarianhamina, Saltvik, Sund
  • Number of residents within the network: 21,000

Mikkeli, Kenkäveronniemi

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Mikkeli
  • Number of residents within the network: 42,000

Oulu, Taskila

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Ii, Muhos, Oulu, Utajärvi
  • Number of residents within the network: 200,000

Pietarsaari, Alheda

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Pietarsaari, Pedersöre Municipality, Uusikarlepyy, Luoto
  • Number of residents within the network: 31,000

Pori, Luotsinmäki

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Pori, Ulvila, Nakkila, Harjavalta, Eura, Eurajoki
  • Number of residents within the network: 110,000

Rauma, Maanpäänniemi

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Rauma, Eurajoki
  • Number of residents within the network: 40,000

Rovaniemi, Alakorkalo

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Rovaniemi
  • Number of residents within the network: 55,000

Salo, central treatment plant

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Salo
  • Number of residents within the network: 45,000

Savonlinna, Pihlajaniemi

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Savonlinna
  • Number of residents within the network: 23,000

Seinäjoki, central treatment plant

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Seinäjoki
  • Number of residents within the network: 55,000

Tampere, Viinikanlahti

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Kangasala, Lempäälä, Pirkkala, Tampere
  • Number of residents within the network: 200,000

Turku, Kakolanmäki

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Aura, Kaarina, Lieto, Marttila, Masku, Mynämäki, Naantali, Nousiainen, Oripää, Paimio, Pöytyä, Raisio, Rusko, Turku
  • Number of residents within the network: 300,000    

Vaasa, Pått

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Vaasa, Mustasaari, Maalahti
  • Number of residents within the network: 70,000

Vihti, Nummela

  • Wastewater network municipalities: Vihti
  • Number of residents within the network: 18,000

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