Researchers from the University of Regina are teaming up the with the City of Regina to track COVID-19 in municipal wastewater to better predict future trends.

Fredericton-based company LuminUltra filed a patent for technology that it says can help provide quick and early detection of COVID-19 in a community.

Both dolphins and beluga whales have been infected with related coronaviruses in the past.

Wastewater surveillance works because many infectious agents are excreted in bodily fluids, before and during active infection, says Lawrence Goodridge of the University of Guelph.

USask environmental scientists have been able to predict COVID-19 active cases in Saskatoon by testing for the virus in the city's wastewater.

In the next five years, the City of Kelowna is expecting to hit capacity at its current composting facility near Vernon.

The city and health unit have been collecting wastewater samples from pollution control plants in the area since July.

The discussion was driven by an incident on May 22 during which staff at the city's wastewater treatment plant observed oil in the water.

The refinery has made arrangements to have the vanadium-concentrated water hauled off-site for specialized treatment, says the City of Regina.

Residents are still allowed to hand-water their flowers and vegetable gardens.