COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Information

Wastewater surveillance can provide an early warning of COVID-19’s spread in communities.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC launched the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) in September 2020 and launched the program nationally in February 2022. CDC developed NWSS to coordinate and build the nation’s capacity to track the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in wastewater samples collected across the country. CDC’s NWSS works with health departments to track SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater so communities can act quickly to prevent the spread of COVID-19. NWSS is transforming independent local efforts into a robust, sustainable national surveillance system.

Many cities around the country, including Portsmouth are now participating in wastewater surveillance programs. Go to CDC information on the topic .and the CDC Fact Sheet on Wastewater Surveillance.