KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – Recent findings indicate that the Keene wastewater treatment facility is registering some of the highest COVID-19 concentrations in New Hampshire.

This development mirrors a national trend, as over half of U.S. states are detecting increased virus levels in wastewater, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The N.H. Department of Health and Human Services launched a wastewater monitoring program in late 2022, encompassing 14 treatment facilities across the state, including Keene, to provide early warnings of potential COVID-19 surges.

COVID-19 can be excreted in fecal matter, which is subsequently detected in sewage systems. This testing method has gained significance as many cases go unreported due to the widespread use of at-home tests.

In Keene, the wastewater treatment facility, which also serves Swanzey and Marlborough, has recorded a marked increase in COVID-19 levels since late June. On June 24, the facility measured nearly 7,000 viral copies per 100 milliliters of wastewater, a figure deemed low by state health criteria. However, by July 8, this number had surged to over 58,000 viral copies per 100 milliliters, propelling Keene to the highest detection percentile in the state.

Despite a decrease to approximately 31,000 viral copies per 100 milliliters by July 15, Keene still ranked second in the state, trailing Merrimack, which reported 40,320 viral copies per 100 milliliters. This pattern is seen nationwide, with many areas experiencing similar rises in viral detection through wastewater testing.

New Hampshire’s wastewater surveillance program, funded by a CDC grant, aims to provide comprehensive data on COVID-19 trends. The program includes treatment facilities in Berlin, Dover, Durham, Hampton, Hanover, Manchester, Merrimack, Newmarket, Newport, Portsmouth (Pease and Peirce Island), Plymouth, and Sunapee.