Objective:

To describe the current evidence on the presence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in wastewater; and its potential use as an epidemiological surveillance tool.

Materials and methods:

A search was performed in PubMed and medRxiv databases from January 2003 to June 8, 2020 according to the Cochrane Rapid Review Guide.

Results:

Twenty-nine publications were included. Non-infective RNA of SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in hospital sewage; raw and treated wastewater, and primary sludges from sewage treatment plants. Quantitative levels of viral RNA in wastewater are related with the number of Covid-19 cases. SARS-CoV-1 and other coronaviruses remained infective in wastewater up to two days.

Conclusions:

Currently, there is no evidence of the presence of infective SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and its inactivation through treatment/disinfection has been proven. Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater can be a useful epidemiological surveillance tool.

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