This study aimed to identifying the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in raw and treated wastewater during the COVID-19 outbreak in Tehran, Qom and Anzali cities (Iran). From three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), 28 treated and untreated wastewater composite samples were collected from April 4 to May 2, 2020. In this study, polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) was used through one-step real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for identification of RNA viruses. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was elicited from wastewater composite samples in all inlet samples taken from the three above mentioned cities. The results of outlet samples were as follows: 1) Results from Qom and East Anzali outlets showed no trace of SARS-CoV-2 RNA despite the difference in treatment disinfection method used (chlorine vs. ultraviolet (UV) disinfection). 2. In Tehran, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in any of the outlet samples taken from the modules disinfected by UV. Out of the four samples taken from the modules disinfected by chlorine, two were positive for the SARS-CoV-2 RNA which could have been caused by deficiencies in operation and maintenance. It can be concluded that meeting the standards of operation and maintenance (O&M) in WWTPs can considerably ensure that wastewater does not act as one of the roots of transmission for the disease.

本研究旨在确定德黑兰、库姆和安扎利市（伊朗）COVID-19 爆发期间原废水和处理废水中是否存在 SARS-CoV-2 RNA。2020 年 4 月 4 日至 5 月 2 日，从三个废水处理厂 (WWTP) 采集了 28 个已处理和未处理的废水复合样品。在本研究中，通过一步实时定量逆转录酶使用聚乙二醇 6000 (PEG 6000) -用于鉴定RNA病毒的聚合酶链反应（qRT-PCR）。从上述三个城市采集的所有入口样品中的废水复合样品中提取了 SARS-CoV-2 RNA。门店样本的结果如下： 1) 库姆和东安扎利门店的结果显示，尽管使用的处理消毒方法不同（氯消毒与紫外线 (UV) 消毒），但没有发现 SARS-CoV-2 RNA 的痕迹。2. 在德黑兰，从经过紫外线消毒的模块中采集的任何出口样本中均未检测到 SARS-CoV-2 RNA。从经过氯消毒的模块中采集的四个样本中，有两个样本的 SARS-CoV-2 RNA 呈阳性，这可能是由于操作和维护缺陷造成的。可以得出结论，满足污水处理厂的运行和维护（O&M）标准可以在很大程度上确保废水不会成为疾病传播的根源之一。