Participate in ethics and data sharing community  | ​  Learn More 

Why is Wastewater surveillance important?

What is wastewater?

Wastewater is any water that has been affected by human use. It comes from a variety of sources, including households (think sinks, showers, and toilets), industries, and agricultural processes. Essentially, it’s the used water that needs to be cleaned before it can be safely released back into the environment or reused.

Why is Wastewater Surveillance Important?

Wastewater surveillance involves monitoring the contents of wastewater to gain insights into public health. This approach can reveal a lot about public health because everything that goes down the drain can provide clues about what’s happening in the population. For example, it can help track the spread of infectious diseases like diarrheal diseases, COVID-19, monitor levels of drugs or other substances, and even detect outbreaks before people start showing symptoms.

The Value of Wastewater Data to Public Health

Data from wastewater is incredibly valuable for several reasons:

1.  Early Detection of Disease Outbreaks

Wastewater can contain viral genetic material before people show symptoms. This means health officials can detect outbreaks early and respond swiftly through targeted interventions such as increased testing or public health advisories. 

2. Tracking Disease Trends 

By regularly testing wastewater, scientists can observe trends in infection rates over time. This helps in understanding how diseases spread and peak.

3. Monitoring Substance Use

Wastewater analysis can reveal patterns in drug use within communities, aiding in public health interventions.

4. Assessing Public Health Measures

It can help gauge the effectiveness of health policies, such as lockdowns or vaccination campaigns, by showing changes in viral loads or other health indicators in the population. Knowing which areas are most affected by a disease allows for better resource allocation such as distribution of medical supplies and personnel.

Subscribe to the PHA4GE Newsletter

We're committed to your privacy. PHA4GE uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.

Follow PHA4GE

Related Articles

Bioinformatics conference seeks to make a real difference to disease outbreaks

At the 2025 ISCB-Africa ASBCB Bioinformatics Conference in Cape Town, UWC’s Professor Alan Christoffels urged students to bridge the gap between academic research and public health. Highlighting the role of bioinformatics and genomics in disease response, Christoffels emphasized the need for data standards, cross-border collaboration, and real-world impact in managing outbreaks across Africa and beyond.

New PHA4GE course plays to different learning styles

At the ISCB-Africa ASBCB Conference, Keaghan Brown presented PHA4GE’s new online course on wastewater surveillance, designed to integrate genomics, bioinformatics, and diverse learning styles. Developed with Farzaana Diedericks, the course uses an avatar-led format to teach real-time pathogen tracking through wastewater monitoring—enhancing public health capacity in Africa and globally.