Have a read of the paper if you are interested:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720322816. Just focus on the intro and discussion if the result section is too much.
Is there a version in english?
Just jesting although not having a science background, I did have a fair bit of trouble following a lot of it.
I'm not doubting the science behind the testing nor the ability of the virus to thrive in effluent but you've got to admit there have been a hell of a lot of cases where COVID-19 has been detected in wastewater with no reported cases before or after. This seems at odds with the reported infection rates etc.
As this paper is relatively old, I'd be interested to know if they can diagnose the particular strains of COVID when it's found in wastewater. Do we know if the COVID detected in Byron Bay's waste water is the Delta variant? Also as it's been established that animals can be rife with coronaviruses, is there the possibility that viral contamination could have come from the introduction of animal faeces into the sewerage system (e.g people flushing pet waste, animals (particularly rodents) shitting in the sewers, well-trained cats using the dunny) ?
Incidentally, I think the existence of the virus in Byron's sewage might provide us with a golden scientific opportunity.
As we know, Byron Bay is Australia's capital when it comes to freaky wellness practices. This means they have an overabundance of quack voodoo clinics offering Colonic Irrigation. The geography of the area also means that it's very easy to seal off from the rest of the country.
I propose we establish a strict cordon around the town, deliberately introduce COVID and then use these clinics to get a closer understanding of the virus' relationship with human waste!