A global initiative to capture the first simultaneous snapshot of public health through wastewater, launching March 2027.
Welcome to Global Wastewater Day
A global initiative to capture the first simultaneous snapshot of public health through wastewater.
On one coordinated day, countries worldwide will collect wastewater samples, providing unprecedented insight into global health, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental trends.
Held annually, Global Wastewater Day will build a long-term international observatory to track human and environmental health, provide training, strengthen collaboration, and advance wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE).
Our Work
Global Wastewater Day is an international initiative bringing together researchers, public health organisations, wastewater utilities, and policymakers to harness the power of wastewater-based epidemiology. By collecting and analysing wastewater samples using a standardised global approach, the programme generates valuable insights into public health, environmental conditions, antimicrobial resistance, emerging pathogens, and other population-level indicators. The initiative aims to transform wastewater data into actionable intelligence that supports disease surveillance, environmental protection, scientific discovery, and pandemic preparedness.
Year 1 will bring the initial global sampling exercise, with a view that the programme will grow in subsequent years into a long-term international network and ultimately a planetary health observatory capable of delivering routine, coordinated wastewater intelligence on a global scale.
Wastewater Data
Wastewater provides a unique snapshot of the health of communities and the environment. A single sample can reveal important information about infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, microplastics, and wider environmental conditions, offering an efficient and unbiased way to monitor population-level trends. Because wastewater captures signals from entire communities without relying on individual testing, it can provide early warning of emerging health threats, track long-term changes in public and environmental health, and support evidence-based decision making. By combining standardised wastewater data from different regions and countries, we can build a powerful picture of how human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected, helping to strengthen disease surveillance, environmental protection, and global preparedness for future challenges.
