This bill aims to enhance the detection of infectious diseases in wastewater to better prepare for public health emergencies. It provides funding to support these monitoring activities over several years.
Surveilling Effluent Water for Epidemic Response Act or the SEWER Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) program, which detects and monitors pathogens in wastewater. It requires the CDC to expand and intensify the activities of the NWSS, including with respect to SARS-Co V-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The NWSS provides funding and guidance to public health departments for wastewater surveillance activities. Under the NWSS, health departments and other partners coordinate on wastewater surveillance at sampling sites and share data with the CDC. The NWSS was initially implemented to monitor SARS-Co V-2 and has since expanded to include influenza A, avian influenza A, mpox, and RSV.
1. This bill requires the government to improve monitoring of diseases in wastewater. 2. It focuses on detecting pathogens like viruses and bacteria that can cause illness. 3. The bill allocates $150 million each year from 2026 to 2030 for these efforts. 4. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will lead this initiative. 5. Wastewater utilities are not required to participate in this monitoring.