Wastewater Monitoring

What is Wastewater Monitoring? 

Wastewater (“WW”) monitoring is a public health tool that is used to detect and track contaminants, viruses, bacteria, chemicals, drugs, among other substances to help identify emerging threats and potential hazards in a population. While it is not a new method (it dates back to the 1940s), interest and use of WW monitoring was renewed during the COVID-19 pandemic when it reemerged as a way to trace the presence and trends of disease, informing public health officials of disease burden and where to concentrate efforts. 

One of the great advantages of WW monitoring is that it is a population-wide disease trend forecasting tool that works with deidentified data – it tests material from public sewage plants – and is not traceable back to any individual. 

Wastewater Monitoring in Nassau County

Due to its population density and geographic proximity to New York City, Nassau County is ideal for this initiative, as it has over 90% municipal sewer coverage. Nassau County Department of Health piloted a wastewater monitoring program in 2022 for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and then applied the same technology to help identify polio in local wastewater. In 2023, we utilized similar methods to detect measles, demonstrating the adaptability and value of this surveillance tool. Recently, we have also utilized this approach during major public events that draw large numbers of visitors, allowing us to monitor potential health threats and respond proactively to protect both residents and tourists. Currently, all sewage treatment plants throughout the county participate in this program. Through partnership with the New York State Center for Clean Water Technology at Stony Brook University, we have now expanded testing to other categories of interest.
 
By using WW monitoring, coupled with other information and epidemiological trend assessment, we are learning more about the prevalence of disease and emerging public health concerns in our communities. The predictive value of these tools is instrumental in helping us forecast and prepare for emerging population-wide potential threats to the health and safety of our residents. It is our hope that with early detection, early notification of those in impacted areas of the county may be made possible, and health outcomes improved. 

Important Notice

Wastewater monitoring is not a substitute for individualized diagnostic medical testing. Any person who is unwell should continue to seek the care of their healthcare provider. Wastewater monitoring is designed to maintain the privacy of public health investigations while simultaneously reducing the need for individualized testing for public health investigations.