Wastewater testing for COVID-19 nixed
MOUNT DESERT The Board of Selectmen on Monday rejected a suggestion by members of the warrant committee that wastewater be tested for the virus that causes COVID-19 as it enters the three municipal treatment plants.
The estimated cost would have been $54,800 to $85,800 a year.
The warrant committee discussed the matter at its Feb. 9 meeting.
“It was generally agreed that such testing would heighten local awareness of the pandemic and possibly prevent people from becoming complacent about it,” said Wastewater Superintendent Ed Montague.
However, he said in a memo to Public Works Director Tony Smith, “In-house testing would not be possible with our current laboratory and staff. Significant training and equipment would be needed for our lab to be able to conduct these tests, provided we could even find the training and equipment.”