ABOUT GLOBAL WASTEWATER DAY
Over the past 20 years, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has shown that wastewater can provide valuable insights into public health. By analysing wastewater, researchers can track infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, medicine use, drug consumption, diet, and environmental pollution. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of this approach and revealed major differences in wastewater surveillance capabilities around the world.
Recognising this opportunity, Global Wastewater Day was created to raise awareness of wastewater-based epidemiology, foster international collaboration, and support the development of wastewater surveillance worldwide.
Our Vision
A healthier future, informed by wastewater.
A world where wastewater intelligence empowers every community with equitable access to the insights needed to protect health, safeguard the environment and build a more resilient future.
One sample. Many insights.
At the heart of Global Wastewater Day is a simple but powerful idea: one sample, many insights.
A single wastewater sample can provide valuable information about infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceuticals, chemical pollutants, microplastics and environmental conditions. When data are collected using the same approach across countries and continents, they can create a powerful shared picture of public and environmental health.
Together, we can turn wastewater into knowledge
By bringing together researchers, laboratories, wastewater utilities, public health organisations, policymakers and communities across the world, we are building a collaborative network that transforms wastewater data into meaningful insights for the benefit of all.
Public health insights for everyone
We believe that access to timely, high-quality public health insights should be equitable and inclusive. Wherever they are in the world, communities should be able to benefit from the intelligence wastewater can provide.
By fostering collaboration, supporting capacity building and encouraging participation from countries and regions with different resources and capabilities, Global Wastewater Day aims to help reduce inequalities in health surveillance, preparedness and environmental monitoring.
Guided by One Health principles, we recognise that human, animal and environmental health are deeply interconnected. Our network enables partners to contribute to, learn from and benefit from a growing evidence base that can support early warning, informed decision-making and collective responses to emerging challenges.