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Publications

Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 40469614 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1562659

Turning analysis into action: opportunities and challenges in implementing wastewater science for public health decision-making.

Front Public Health 13:1562659

Authors: Anna Gitter, Valeria Ruvalcaba, Katelyn Clark, Theresa Tran Carapucci, Fuqing Wu, Blake M Hanson, Jennifer Deegan, John Balliew, Eric Boerwinkle, Anthony W Maresso, Kristina D Mena

Affiliations

  • Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States.
  • Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United States.
  • Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United States. Department of Epidemiology, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States.
  • Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States. Department of Emergency Medicine, UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States. UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United States.
  • Department of Epidemiology, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States.
  • UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United States.
  • El Paso Water Utility, El Paso, TX, United States.
  • Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United States. Department of Epidemiology, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States. UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United States.
  • TAILOR Labs, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.
  • Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.

Abstract

In the 5 years since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has dramatically expanded with programs implemented across the globe to monitor for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses of public health concern. However, the best way to use wastewater surveillance data and inform local communities of the utility of wastewater science remains limited and sporadically discussed. Specifically, there is vague guidance regarding interpreting varying levels of viral loads in wastewater for public health significance. While collaborative efforts are key to implementing these community-specific wastewater surveillance programs, effectively using the data for public health decision-making still needs significant refinement. Aligned with recent calls for advancing the science of wastewater surveillance, the experiences described in this article examine the critical need to advance other aspects of WBE programs, including communication, ethics, and decision-making.

MeSH

Epidemiology, Decision Making, Public Health, Viruses