Western Australia's wastewater will be tested for the COVID-19 virus starting in October.
This is a collaborative project to track and monitor for traces of the COVID-19 virus in WA's sewerage network.
It will be lead by the WA Health system, with testing undertaken by PathWest, to provide further data to help inform WA's current restrictions in place.
The Water Corporation and Water Research Australia are also project partners.
The evaluation will aim to answer questions such as what are the best sites to test, the testing frequency and interpreting the information.
Health Minister Roger Cook said Western Australia is in a unique position to undertake work in this field, given our current state of no community transmission for the past five months.
"Our priority has always been testing individuals to keep Western Australia safe but we've also been storing wastewater samples since April," he said.
"Now that WA has had no community transmission for the past five months, we're ready to start wastewater testing as well."
Individual testing of people at COVID clinics and other collection facilities is the mainstay of detection for COVID-19.
Police issue 31,000 driving infringements in first month of new AI cameras
Works underway on Rockingham and Safety Bay High School redevelopments
New measles exposure sites revealed in Bunbury
Dawesville man charged after allegedly leaving his elderly Great Dane to suffer painful conditions
Good Samaritan sought by police after helping teen during robbery in Baldivis
Under-16s social media ban now in force
Desperate search continues for missing Bunbury FIFO worker
Passengers now able to use credit, debit cards to tag on and off WA's public transport
New floating jetty speeds up emergency response times for Marine Rescue Mandurah