NEW CASTLE—The Department of Health and Social Services and Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health announced a new partnership to monitor New Castle County wastewater.

The program will monitor fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine and their metabolites throughout the county’s sewer system.

The data can be reviewed at biobot.nccde.org.

“Through the pandemic, New Castle County relied on data provided by our extensive research with our public works team and Biobot to help us choose testing locations, focus PPE distribution sites, and vaccination clinics,” New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer said.

“We’re now excited to take these resources and focus our research on opioid and fentanyl epidemics to gain a clearer understanding of where we should deploy resources and training and further education. We are thankful for the partnership with DSAMH and the Department of Health and Social Services to continue our research of wastewater.”

New Castle County Police Department Senior Lt. Allen Herring and Senior Sgt. James helped secure a tier award to research wastewater for traces of illicit substances in up to 20 locations throughout the county.

The project will be funded as part of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health’s federal Statewide Opioid Response grant.

Research results will be shared on a joint dashboard between New Castle County and the department created by Delaware-based Tech Impact. The pilot program will run April through September.