Low-cost composite autosampler for wastewater sampling.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Engineering

Background:

• Wastewater monitoring is crucial for detecting pathogens (e.g., SARS-CoV-2), drug use, and antimicrobial resistance.
• Early detection of viral outbreaks and variants in communities is vital for public health response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-cost, flexible, and open-source automatic water sampler for wastewater analysis.
• To create a customizable device adaptable to various environmental monitoring applications.

Main Methods:

• Designed a composite automatic water sampler with a cost of approximately $1000.
• Implemented a continuous weighing system for accurate sample quantity measurement and cutoff.
• Developed customizable hardware and firmware for flexible sampling parameters (e.g., sample size, delay time).
• Tested the sampler's performance with sample sizes of 10 g and 100 g at varying suction heights (0.65–4.75 m).

Main Results:

• The developed water sampler is low-cost (<$1000) and open-source.
• The system offers high operational flexibility, allowing users to define sampling quantities and delays.
• The sampler's compact design (diameter and height <0.5 m) facilitates deployment in human-entry openings.
• Experimental data validated the system's functionality for different sample sizes and suction heights.

Conclusions:

• The developed automatic water sampler provides a cost-effective and adaptable solution for wastewater-based epidemiology.
• This technology can enhance early detection of public health threats, including viral pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.
• The open-source nature promotes accessibility and customization for diverse environmental monitoring needs.