TY - JOUR
T1 - Wastewater Monitoring
T2 - Improving Public Awareness and Understanding in the United States, May 2024
AU - Kreuter, Matthew W.
AU - Garg, Rachel
AU - Marsh, Alexis K.
AU - Olagoke, Ayokunle
AU - Weng, Olivia
AU - De La Vega, Victoria
AU - Dunn, Cameron
AU - Johnson, Kimberly J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health
PY - 2026/1/1
Y1 - 2026/1/1
N2 - Objectives: Although wastewater monitoring for virus detection has increased in communities worldwide, public awareness, understanding, questions, and concerns about wastewater monitoring are largely unknown. We assessed awareness, knowledge, and support for wastewater monitoring for detection of viruses and bacteria among US residents and elicited questions and concerns from residents about its use. Methods: We conducted a survey among a racially and ethnically diverse sample of residents in Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas to assess awareness, knowledge, and support of wastewater monitoring. We also asked an open-ended question to elicit further questions and concerns from survey participants about wastewater monitoring. Two independent reviewers coded the responses to the open-ended question. Results: Among 516 survey participants (52% White, 31% Black, 27% Hispanic ethnicity), 289 (56%) were aware that local public health departments and federal health agencies tested sewer water yet 334 (65%) knew “little or nothing” about wastewater monitoring. After participants were exposed to a brief description of the wastewater monitoring process, 80% “supported” or “strongly supported” wastewater monitoring to detect viruses and bacteria. When we analyzed responses to the open-ended question on wastewater monitoring, 3 broad categories and 9 subcategories of questions and concerns about wastewater monitoring emerged: (1) how wastewater monitoring works (mechanics, accuracy, cost, safety), (2) what is done with the findings generated by wastewater monitoring (public accessibility, government trust, public health response), and (3) what protections were in place against misuse of findings (privacy, fairness). Conclusions: Proactive public education is needed to increase understanding, build support, and prevent disinformation about wastewater monitoring. Local systems are needed to share findings rapidly, clearly, and simply.
AB - Objectives: Although wastewater monitoring for virus detection has increased in communities worldwide, public awareness, understanding, questions, and concerns about wastewater monitoring are largely unknown. We assessed awareness, knowledge, and support for wastewater monitoring for detection of viruses and bacteria among US residents and elicited questions and concerns from residents about its use. Methods: We conducted a survey among a racially and ethnically diverse sample of residents in Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas to assess awareness, knowledge, and support of wastewater monitoring. We also asked an open-ended question to elicit further questions and concerns from survey participants about wastewater monitoring. Two independent reviewers coded the responses to the open-ended question. Results: Among 516 survey participants (52% White, 31% Black, 27% Hispanic ethnicity), 289 (56%) were aware that local public health departments and federal health agencies tested sewer water yet 334 (65%) knew “little or nothing” about wastewater monitoring. After participants were exposed to a brief description of the wastewater monitoring process, 80% “supported” or “strongly supported” wastewater monitoring to detect viruses and bacteria. When we analyzed responses to the open-ended question on wastewater monitoring, 3 broad categories and 9 subcategories of questions and concerns about wastewater monitoring emerged: (1) how wastewater monitoring works (mechanics, accuracy, cost, safety), (2) what is done with the findings generated by wastewater monitoring (public accessibility, government trust, public health response), and (3) what protections were in place against misuse of findings (privacy, fairness). Conclusions: Proactive public education is needed to increase understanding, build support, and prevent disinformation about wastewater monitoring. Local systems are needed to share findings rapidly, clearly, and simply.
KW - communication
KW - education
KW - infectious disease
KW - surveillance
KW - wastewater
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105017081296
U2 - 10.1177/00333549251359177
DO - 10.1177/00333549251359177
M3 - Article
C2 - 40914868
AN - SCOPUS:105017081296
SN - 0033-3549
VL - 141
SP - 114
EP - 121
JO - Public Health Reports
JF - Public Health Reports
IS - 1
ER -